PEOPLE IN Northern Ireland generally believe relations between Catholics and Protestants have improved and will continue to improve, according to a major Northern Ireland Life and Timessurvey.
But it is also clear from the detailed survey of 1,179 people over 18 years of age that was carried out between October last year and January this year that 10 years on from the Belfast Agreement Northern Ireland has a distance to go before it could be classified as a "normal society".
A study, Can Northern Ireland become normal? Attitudes to the role of government in Northern Ireland, based on information from the survey, conducted by ARK, a joint research initiative by Queen's University Belfast and the University of Ulster, was published yesterday.
Political consultant Robin Wilson, who analysed the results on behalf of ARK, said it was "encouraging to find that people's political priorities are moving away from constitutional arguments towards the bread and butter issues that characterise a 'normal' society".
He added, however: "The survey results highlight a lack of consensus on issues that are central to the functioning of a peaceful democracy - such as opposition to political violence, the right to protest, and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. This is worrying."
The survey found that 30 per cent had a lot (5 per cent) or a little (25 per cent) sympathy with the reasons for republican violence and 29 per cent had a lot (3 per cent) or a little (26 per cent) sympathy with the reasons for loyalist violence.
Encouraging signs include the finding that 65 per cent of people believe that relations are now better between Protestants and Catholics while only 2 per cent believe they are worse. Moreover, 64 per cent of respondents believe they will further improve over the next five years while only 3 per cent think they will get worse.
Over half (53 per cent) identified the devolution of policing and justice as the main priority, above securing Northern Ireland's union with the UK (26 per cent) or bringing about a united Ireland (9 per cent).
Of those surveyed, 12 per cent said they would find it impossible to accept if a majority voted for a united Ireland while 46 per cent said they would not like the result but "would live with it", and another 39 per cent said they would happily accept the wishes of the majority.
More respondents (45 per cent) were very satisfied or fairly satisfied with the performance of Assembly members than were very or fairly dissatisfied (28 per cent).
A total of 49 per cent were definitely or probably satisfied with the work of DUP Ministers while 19 per cent were probably or definitely dissatisfied. This compared with the 35 per cent who were definitely or probably satisfied with Sinn Féin Ministers and the 32 per cent who were definitely or probably dissatisfied.
When asked would most people mind if a close relative married someone of a different religion, 59 per cent said they would mind a lot (19 per cent) or mind a little (40 per cent) while 40 per cent would not mind.
Respondents showed a preparedness to live near and work with people of eastern European background or from other minority ethnic groups, but a bias against Travellers persists. For instance 82 per cent said they would willingly accept eastern Europeans living in their area, while 17 per cent would not. A total of 89 per cent said they would accept other ethnic groups such as Asians living in their area.
However, a majority (53 per cent) said they would not willingly accept an Irish Traveller as a resident in their area, while 44 per cent said they would.