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THIS IS a time of considerable anxiety in Northern Ireland as plans for the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster run into difficulties while threats from dissident republicans to the peace process reach a six-year high. It is a volatile situation that demands courageous political leadership. The gains made during the past five years in bringing about the normalisation of society should not be jeopardised.

The man who holds the key to progress is First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson. He has come under political pressure from Jim Allister and his Traditional Unionists because of his powersharing arrangement with Sinn Féin and from Sir Reg Empey and the Ulster Unionist Party over the manner in which they are being treated within the Executive. At the same time, Sinn Féin is demanding swift action on the transfer of policing. In addition, the SDLP is aggrieved that it may be denied the justice ministry. In all of this, the Dublin and London governments are concerned that further delays in the transfer of powers could be extremely damaging.