Northern Ireland faces a series of severe policy challenges as well as unprecedented budgetary pressures. Now more than ever, good government is required – an Executive that demonstrably works together, finds common cause, and takes collective responsibility for the tough choices that are required. After a positive start when the Executive returned two years ago, in recent months relationships between ministers of different parties appear to have soured, alongside a slowing down in progress on policy issues. Unless this changes, the issues we face will continue to deteriorate.

Executive ministers have made some good progress in recent months on issues like childcare, expansion of the Magee campus and public sector pay awards. But they face an immense challenge to address Northern Ireland’s long list of policy crises. Many local issues require both short- and long-term plans in order to stabilise services today and ensure their viability tomorrow. Priorities have to be identified and tough choices have to be made.

This can only be achieved if the Executive agrees to work together, is honest with the public about the size of the problems, and resolves to jointly find solutions despite the difficulties. However, in the past six months relationships between ministers from different parties have deteriorated, making it much harder for progress on difficult issues to be made.

In its latest Stormont tracker report, Two years of the restored Northern Ireland Executive, Pivotal, the independent think tank focused on Northern Ireland, emphasises that this is a vital time for the Executive. The report, the latest in Pivotal’s biannual series looking at the performance of government in Northern Ireland, outlines how big decisions are needed about spending, investment and reforms, and that this will require pragmatism, cooperation and good faith.