Two years late, and with a fed-up populace doing its best to give it a fair wind, the Northern Ireland Assembly finally cranked into being on Saturday. Though hopefully it won’t be a short sit, as the old superstition would have it.

The omens aren’t good, as it’s actually been collapsed for 40 per cent of its existence. Still, fingers crossed.

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There they all were, well scrubbed-up, shoes shining, as they entered the chamber. Michelle O’Neill always looks like she’s about to burst out laughing, but managed a statesmanlike tone with a speech that acknowledged victims of the conflict and pledged to respect the culture and aspirations of unionists.

The new deputy, Emma Little-Pengelly, has the air of a lottery winner who hadn’t actually bought a ticket; a feeling........

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