I need to preface what I’m about to say with a disclaimer: Power-sharing is a necessary, vital part of the peace process.

It reassured the nationalist community that they would have a seat at the table and no longer be subject to unionist, majority rule.

Post-Troubles, it promoted the spirit of co-operation and the importance of working together to solve problems.

Few would describe the status quo as harmonious, but when Sinn Féin and the DUP finally agreed to share power, Northern Ireland stepped forward into a new era.

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Now? I think we need to ditch mandatory coalition. We maybe need to scrap the joint office altogether.

Perhaps the post-conflict institutions have served their purpose and it’s time to say goodbye.

I don’t say this lightly. Nationalists reading this will say Sarah, we suffered under majority rule.

Yes, you did. Northern Ireland’s history of discrimination against the Catholic community should make us wary of ditching consociationalism.

Power-sharing was necessary to tackle the imbalance of power between the two communities in Northern Ireland.

We still live in a divided society with deep, entrenched problems. The absence of violence hasn’t removed the legacy of pain and trauma post-conflict.

Power-sharing is a powerful symbol of unity while problems linger, a bulwark against those who want to take us back.

So, when I say that........

© The Irish News