Northern Irelands politics has become something from which ‘legends’ to all sides have been created from, an issue with international reputation, and as with so many political issues-regardless of country-is being over shadowed by the ‘personal issue’s’ of politicians. Personal issues are exactly the reason Robinson is giving for his 6 week break, which may be understandable. However when your country is dealing with possibly one of the most important topics-governance over policing and justice- there really is no time nor space for personal issues, because when we look at it the personal security of the entire country is at risk here. That is the extremity of these talks; who ends up in charge of a populations security and how justice is served. Would we let judges take breaks from courts for personal issues whilst seeing over a criminal trial? Let’s face it, if all politicians took 6 week ‘breaks’ to deal with ‘personal issues’ as a result of their political position then we would get nowhere. The extent if any of Robinson’s wrong doings remain vague, and as he himself has asked for an investigative inquiry, he may be hoping that honesty and sympathy from the DUP supporters will carry him through. That aside, when dealing with political issues, these cannot be put on hold, and in essence hold back the democratic process that countries world wide have to fight for, due to ‘personal’ reasons. The saying ‘You shouldn’t start something if you can’t finish it’ may ring true here, even if Robinson had not foreseen what has become his predicament, but having a stand in leader during these talks is not the way to achieve a successful outcome. Robinson needs to decide, for the benefit of the talks and more importantly the good of the people, the people he represents and speaks for, that if he can’t see the talks through then he needs to hand the reigns over to someone who can. Indefinitely.

This is not a time where there should be uncertainty over the leadership of one of the two main parties involved in power sharing in Northern Ireland. Having a party that is essentially on leave but still doing some work is not a sensible way to be conducting negotiations over the future of the Stormont Assembly.