This approach would involve unionists and nationalists sharing executive and legislative power in a new assembly. This approach would mean that the Irish Government would have a significant role to play in a devolved power-sharing administration. The experiment was short-lived and the administration collapsed following the Ulster Workers' Council Strike in May 1974. Those who advocate independence for Northern Ireland argue that both British and Irish sovereignty are unacceptable to one or other of the two communities and therefore it makes sense to consider independence. One of the main question marks over this proposal is whether or not Northern Ireland would be a economically viable unit.
Opponents also question the degree of support for such an outcome.
The division of the current Northern Ireland state into two areas one which would contain a majority of unionists and the other which would contain a majority of nationalists. Those who argue for repartition begin with the assumption that it is impossible to reach compromise between the conflicting aspirations of unionism and nationalism. In this case one practical solution would be to redraw the border to divide the two communities. This solution has been advocated at different times during the past 25 years. Various schemes have been advanced for the division of the current Northern Ireland state.