Sectarian Power-Sharing Indulges and Gives Power to the Most Sectarian

In response to remarks made by first minister Peter Robinson, Patrick Murphy wrote in the Irish News September 28 2013:

"The first minister's behaviour is symptomatic of a long-standing illness in our society."

He continued:

"Stormont is built on sectarianism and cannot operate without it. Power-sharing on a sectarian basis merely gives power to the most sectarian. The system works in that it stops both sides killing each other, but the price is that they are allowed to kill democracy and good government instead."