The agreement on the devolution of policing and justice powers, reached at Hillsborough last Thursday, is another welcome and important breakthrough in bringing devolved government and political normality to the North. Yet the length of time that the deal took to negotiate, and the deep divisions that have been shown still to exist within unionism, suggest that more difficulties lie ahead. The fundamental question remains: are the DUP genuinely prepared to engage in a power-sharing arrangement with Sinn Féin?

Perhaps the Hillsborough agreement will be an important step in this process. In particular, it is noteworthy that the DUP’s final agreement seems to have been driven, in part, by a wider feeling among the general public in the North that a deal should be done. Like their counterparts in the Republic, the electorate in the North is facing tough economic times, and many surely want their politicians to direct their energies to addressing the issues that affect their daily lives.

However, the strong support within unionism for those opposing the deal demonstrates that significant numbers remain implacably opposed to power sharing.

Following the deal, there will not be early assembly elections to test this level of support, but there will be Westminster elections. These will give a clear perspective on the views of the North’s electorate and will have a major impact on the political mood. Sinn Féin displayed commendable patience this time around in waiting for Peter Robinson to get his ducks in a row, but who knows how Robinson’s authority will be affected by the forthcoming general election - in particular by the threat from Jim Allister’s Traditional Unionist Voice party.

The political temperature remains high, and could rise further after the British election. The Ulster Unionist Party - largely a bystander in the talks, but still retaining significant electoral support - is also unhappy with how the latest agreement was reached, and with some of the deal’s terms. There is the real possibility of a split in the unionist vote, as well as further complications from the likely change of government in London.

Despite all these misgivings, however, we must acknowledge that the parties at Hillsborough - supported by the extraordinarily patient work of the Irish and British governments - showed the necessary courage to strike a deal this time around.

Much will now depend on their willingness and ability to work the Belfast Agreement in away that will show that the North’s politicians are really prepared to engage in normal politics. They must address issues such as health, education and (in the future) justice and policing - in other words, the normal business of government.