Northern Ireland is back under direct rule this morning to protect the peace process. The Northern Ireland Executive, the North/South Ministerial Council and the British/Irish Council - the political manifestations of the Belfast Agreement for ordinary citizens - are suspended and put on hold. But, there is no threat to the peace and the template for political progress remains intact.
There is a general acceptance by all of the pro-Agreement parties - albeit an acquiescence by Sinn Féin - that the suspension of devolved government in Northern Ireland was inevitable for the fourth time. It was the most advisable course of action given the Irish and British Governments' agreed analysis of the increasingly intractable nature of the difficulties between, and within, unionism and republicanism.This day was always going to come.
It now falls to the two Governments to press forward with the full implementation of all aspects of the Agreement that fall within their remit. There can be no meetings of the North/South Ministerial Council because they drew their authority from Stormont and the Dail. The British/Irish Intergovernmental Conference will remain the central axis for consultation between the two governments and will, clearly, have to play an enhanced role. There are moves to keep the Policing Board, one of the finest achievements of the Agreement, providing a service to the community. And the date for the Assembly elections stands for May 1st.
Beyond all of that, however, there is one good thing to come out of the suspension on this occasion. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, and, indeed, the Northern Secretary, Dr Reid, are singing off the clearest of hymn sheets now. There is no attempt to put a gloss on the current impasse or to refine messages for the different communities.
Mr Blair and Mr Ahern have made it abundantly clear that there has been a breakdown of trust between unionists and republicans on the arms issue. "It is now essential that the concerns around the commitments to exclusively democratic and non-violent means are removed", the two leaders said yesterday. "The time has come for people to clearly choose one track or the other. In addition, it is essential that each community has confidence in the commitment of the representatives of the other to the full operation and implementation of the Agreement".
The president of Sinn Féin, Mr Gerry Adams, stated recently that he had no difficulty with the proposition that the IRA will, in time, disband and be no more. That time is fast approaching. It is difficult to foresee circumstances in which devolved government can be returned to Northern Ireland without the clearest demonstration that the transition from violence to exclusively peaceful and democratic means can be brought to a definitive conclusion soon.