Northern Ireland's government poised to make a comeback after a two-year hiatus

Northern Ireland's devolved government is set to be reinstated after two years of collapse. A meeting will be held on Saturday at Stormont in Belfast to revive the power-sharing institutions. This time, an Irish nationalist will hold the role of the first minister in the executive, which marks a significant change. The recall of Stormont follows the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) ending its boycott over Brexit trade rules. Two years ago, the DUP withdrew its first minister in protest against additional checks for goods moving between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, leading to the collapse of the power-sharing executive. However, the party has now agreed to return to Stormont after a deal with the government. The first order of business will be to elect a new speaker, followed by nominations for ministerial positions. Sinn Féin, having won the most seats in the last assembly election in May 2022, will nominate a first minister, while the DUP, as the largest unionist party, will nominate a deputy first minister for the first time. The appointment of Michelle O'Neill as the first republican first minister is seen as a significant moment for Irish nationalism. The Alliance Party has not confirmed whether it will enter the government, while the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) have made their decisions to take up a role in the executive and enter an official opposition, respectively. The deal between the DUP and the UK government will lessen post-Brexit checks and paperwork on goods moving from the rest of the UK into Northern Ireland. Furthermore, the return of a Stormont executive will prompt the UK Treasury to release a £3.3 billion package to support struggling public services in Northern Ireland.