‘Together we are strong’ is a powerful message in any language

In the middle of all the coverage of the return of the Northern Ireland Executive at Stormont over the weekend, you may have missed one little vignette.

First Minister, Arlene Foster spoke about a “lovely picture” she had received from pupils at a school she had visited; it included an inscription in Irish. The wording meant: Together we are strong.

Aside from the fact that this is a very powerful message for parties who seem to be utterly divided and whose divisions hold them and the rest of society back, the fact that the motto is in Irish should strike a chord.

More of the Irish language issue later.

But this was a brief flash of optimism, and after almost three years without any government, goodness knows we need all the optimism we can get.

It is, however, easy to be cynical despite all the gladhanding and feelgood factor of the return of Stormont.

One commentator suggested that after three wasted years, we’ve finally got the same old deal. It’s a fair point; one wonders what is substantially different from the deal that appeared to have been set up before.

So, what changed? A few things were significant; both the main parties lost vote share in the recent Westminster election and the penny dropped that people were simply fed up with a lack of activity on the Hill.

As Assembly members continued to pick up salaries, the problems were running deep at people level. Nowhere was this more evident than in our crumbling Health Service. Stories of ridiculous waiting lists with people waiting in agony for five years for a hip replacement and the scandal of people dying with mental health problems while a mental health strategy remained inactive were just the very prominent tip of a huge iceberg.

It is, perhaps therefore, no coincidence that the issue which really became the catalyst to get back into Government was the courage of nurses and NHS staff braving the cold and rain on picket lines.

The PR plan to make the nurses unpopular failed miserably because the general public know they weren’t just fighting for their own pay parity; but they were fighting for a safer Health Service for us all

The public were firmly on the side of the NHS staff and the politicians knew it; and the parties who created the pay differential in the first place were falling over themselves to reintroduce pay parity.

The cynicism goes deeper. It’s suggested that both Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill are weakened leaders who couldn’t wait to get back to Stormont to save their own skins.

And overall the criticism is that the parties who are reluctantly thrown together in the Stormont system are like a couple in a shotgun marriage forced by guilt to stay together for the sake of the children.

Considering all the bickering over red lines and the rest over the last three years, it’s understandable that people are almost afraid to hope.

But the optimistic mood music of the last week should force us to maybe consider that the glass is now half full, rather than half empty.

Already, there is all-party backing for new Health Minister, Robin Swann’s initiative in sorting out the pay issue, and on the same day the Education Minister, Peter Weir released details of a funding package to help schools.

All well and good, no? There is much more work to be done and it’s clear that Northern Ireland needs a major public funding injection. So it’s a worry that already that after Boris flies in and out for a photo opportunity, the new Finance Minister, Conor Murphy says the financial package on offer falls way short of what is needed.

So, it’s a challenging time for the new Executive to make our lives better.

The real issue, though, is whether the protagonists can build relationships, and prove that they really are stronger together.

It was interesting to see the body language of Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill as they smiled in each other’s company on a visit to the Ulster Hospital this week.

Is this indicative of warmer relationships all round at Stormont, where we once heard stories of members of the DUP refusing to acknowledge or even speak to Republicans in the corridors?

We shall see. There will be stresses and strains ahead, not least when the RHI report emerges. And the calls for a Border poll.

A lot has changed since the relationships between the main parties reached the low ebb which saw the resignation of Martin McGuinness.

Society has changed and voters are considering other issues than orange and green. There’s social change with the introduction of same sex marriage and abortion reform in Northern Ireland; and, of course, we have the upcoming Brexit.

One of the major issues of difference over the last three years has been the Irish Language Act.

Do not underestimate how deeply symbolic this is, and how much it plays into the psyche of division.

There are those within the Unionist community who have shown immense disrespect to the Irish language.

We seem to have gotten to the point where elements of Unionism is denying the heritage of those Presbyterians who saved the language.

But it’s not really about the language per se, is it? Nor is it about the cost or, indeed, about whether it’s being used as a weapon by political opponents.

No, some are simply taking an anti-Irish language stance because they disrespect the people who consider themselves Irish.

And, indeed, in a mirror image there are those who fundamentally disrespect those in this country who represent the British culture.

It goes to the heart of the GFA ethos of respect, understanding and tolerance. Unless that is how relationships are underpinned,

Stormont won’t survive long-term, and they won’t be able to deal with our problems.

At grassroots level, people are getting on with their lives, and getting on together, whatever their faith or politics. Sometimes our political leaders could learn from the respectful approach of the people.

So, as we observe the honeymoon period at Stormont, we wonder have the attitudes of the two main parties changed?

We have heard leaders before making positive noises about working together, respecting difference and moving into a new era of hope for a truly shared society.

Will this new decade, new approach be any different?

Stormont, it’s over to you.