THERE is much relief in Northern Ireland (NI) that the political stalemate is finally over.

It took compromise on both sides, as power-sharing has never been easy.

Now, after three long years, vital decisions, particularly over funding, can be made.

Healthcare has been particularly affected, with figures showing patients having to wait 100 times longer for a first consultant outpatient appointment than those in England.

Extraordinarily, nurses were earning considerably less than their English counterparts after a 14 per cent fall in salaries since 2010.

However, as I write, there’s been a breakthrough, with NI’s Health Minister Robin Swann announcing pay parity with the rest of the UK, authorising the release of £109 million as one of the first acts of the newly restored Stormont.

In many ways, this is a triumph for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has long pledged to get it running again.

A committed Unionist, Boris calculates that successful devolution will keep NI on side.

Getting the warring parties back to the table was the first step.

In addition, he has this week refused Nicola Sturgeon’s demand for a second Scottish independence referendum.

But, as always with Ireland, nothing is simple.

Built into the power-sharing agreement is the understanding that the Police Service of Northern Ireland will revisit all the so-called ‘legacy’ deaths during the Troubles through a Historical Investigations Unit (HIU).

This is most concerning.

Despite promises to protect veterans from further vexatious harassment in the absence of new evidence, they could again be hounded over spurious allegations.

But Mr Johnson has assured everyone that the HIU will provide “certainty for veterans and justice for victims.”

I do hope so, for justice delayed is justice denied.