Ten months since Northern Ireland’s Executive collapsed, it’s taken an encounter with the tail-end of a hurricane to remind us why local decision-making is so important.

More frustratingly, Storm Ophelia has shown the DUP-Sinn Féin will-they-won’t-they do a deal to restore power-sharing drama up for the fiasco it really is.

As Storm Ophelia makes its way across Northern Ireland, unelected civil servants are being forced to decide whether schools and other public services should close or not. Meanwhile, political leaders refusing to govern experience the luxury of tweeting messages from the outside; urging vigilance, sharing emergency telephone numbers in case anything bad happens. Not on their watch, of course.

The Northern Irish may be known for our dark sense of humour, but seriously… Who’s in charge here?

Amidst what’s been called a national emergency in the Republic of Ireland, for a few days we can expect this dangerous situation will halt political point scoring between parties here.

When the storm blows over, will the near year-long DUP-Sinn Féin clash over cultural issues have been worth it? Does anyone want to take control ‘on the hill’ anymore?

If MLAs won’t step up, who should provide leadership? Should we call in the citizens – as in, facilitate a citizen’s assembly? Or is local government the answer? We do have ‘super councils’ after all, and right now Stormont isn’t looking so super.

Today and tomorrow, who should be in charge?

Also published on Medium.