It’s now 20 years since David Trimble - and two minor unionist parties - entered the talks process that led to the Belfast Agreement. Everyone was prepared for the agreement to take a few years to bed down; indeed, Trimble highlighted the “constructive ambiguity” required to keep all sides on board.

And even though they knew there would be difficulties along the way, there was still a general optimism that time would result in the building of trust, followed by broader co-operation.