End of the Line or Start of Something New?

Part of my daily internet regimen includes checking a number of Irish newspaper's online outlets and the BBC. I came across this story about Ian Paisley Jr resigning his position as Junior Minister in the Northern Irish Assembly. For those unaware, Ian Paisley, Sr. is the most outspoken Protestant leader in Northern Ireland and was very slow in coming around to the current peace and power sharing agreement in the North. The resignation of the younger Paisley makes me wonder about the future of Northern Irish politics. From the sounds of it, Paisley, Jr. is not done with politics, but in the very least the rumblings about his lobbying will be a setback in any future political campaigns. If we can assume for a moment that the junior Paisley is out of the picture, at least in terms of party leadership in Northern Ireland, does that suggest that the near future might see even more progress? It seems that once Paisley Sr is through with politics, and if Paisley Jr is not in a leadership position, the road would be open for better sectarian relations in the north. It's not that I'm pro Sinn Fein and anti-DUP/Paisleyism, it's just very clear that Sinn Fein and the IRA have made greater strides toward peace in the North, at least in the last 4-5 years. Remember, the IRA disarmed already (the Protestant paramilitaries might have, and I forget for certain, but either was it was significantly later than the IRA). I don't think that any of this will result in the North being absorbed into the Republic. That it too great of a economic hit for the twenty-six counties. But, if Northern Ireland is going to persist as a political entity, it will have to do so through peaceful means and understanding. Perhaps with the Paisleys out of the limelight, the quality of life in Northern Ireland will increase even more.