THE people of Northern Ireland have spoken.

And because of the system of proportional representation used to elect members of the Assembly, there can be doubt about the message sent out by the people.

It is clear there are serious doubts about the potential of the Good Friday Agreement to be the way ahead. Certainly more doubts than when the Agreement was ratified by a substantial majority of the electorate five years ago.

Early results have indicated increased support for the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein.

With those two extremes likely to emerge as the only parties to gain in strength, the Agreement looks dead in the water.

Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy may insist there is no Plan B. But in reality both the British and Irish governments have to contemplate going back to the drawing board.

In spite of the new elections, there seems little prospect of the Assembly, suspended over a year ago, being recalled. Certainly there will be no political will for the DUP and Sinn Fein to co-operate in getting the process back on track.

In truth the Good Friday Agreement has failed to deliver any sort of lasting political solution over the past five years. The election results demonstrate the lack of public faith in it to deliver, and it is time to reinvigorate the peace process with a new formula.

Direct rule cannot go on indefinitely. It is apparent that the DUP will not be sidelined. Opting out of the Good Friday Agreement has enhanced its political fortunes.

Any process will have to embrace the DUP if it has any chance of success. But whether that can be achieved without in turn sidelining Sinn Fein has to be in grave doubt.

London and Dublin must not let the situation in Northern Ireland drift and slip into a complacency caused by the relative peace and security of recent years.

The ceasefire must not be taken for granted. The elections have shown the fragility of peace, and the real possibility of a return to bloodshed and terrorism must never be overlooked.