Calls mount for details of talks to be made public
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood last night demanded the British Irish Inter-Governmental Conference (BIIGC) be reconvened in the wake of the collapse of the Stormont talks.
And many of the smaller parties yesterday called for publication of the text of the deal Sinn Fein claims existed last week.
The BIIGC, which brings together the British and Irish Governments to promote co-operation on matters of mutual interest, has not met since 2007.
Mr Eastwood said he had spoken to senior politicians in Dublin seeking support for his proposal.
“In the absence of ongoing negotiation to restore devolution, I have said that the first step must be the formation of the British Irish Inter-Governmental Conference,” he said.
“I have spoken to An Tanaiste and to leaders of Fianna Fail and the Labour Party in order to build support across Dail Eireann in coming to the recognition that this must be the next step pursued by the Irish Government.
“The seriousness of this moment can’t be naively dismissed or diminished.
“We are being faced with the prospect and threat that all decisions on the governance of Northern Ireland are to be made by a Tory/DUP committee in London.”
Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann MLA called on DUP and Sinn Fein negotiators to publish their talks papers.
“I certainly wouldn’t believe everything that Sinn Fein say, but today’s actions by Mary Lou McDonald provide an opportunity to get to the truth of the matter instead of playing a game of ‘she said, she said’,” Mr Swann added.
“Arlene Foster can put this to bed by telling her negotiators, whoever they were, to publish their documentation.
“This is going to run and run until we get to the truth of the matter, and at the minute that can only be established by both parties being honest and upfront.
“I find it simply unfathomable that unionist negotiators would even contemplate agreeing for Irish to become an official language of Northern Ireland and facilitating an all-powerful Irish Language commissioner.
“Only DUP negotiators can explain that. Those proposals should have been kicked into touch months ago.”
TUV leader Jim Allister said Sinn Fein claims around its proposed Irish Language Act would cement unionist opposition. “Whatever the truth of Sinn Fein’s claim that there was a deal with the DUP, I trust that all unionists will unite in opposition to what Mary Lou McDonald has put out in the public domain,” he said.
Alliance said it did not want to get into a “blame game”.
“It is for each party to explain their respective positions in the talks process. Indeed, some months ago Alliance published our proposals on an Irish Language Act, as well as around reform of the petition of concern mechanism,” a spokesman said.
“Alliance is not focused on a blame game but on how we can pick up the pieces from this week’s events and ensure the return of functioning institutions for the people of Northern Ireland.”
Shadow Secretary of State Owen Smith MP said he was disappointed at the collapse of the talks.
“Karen Bradley (Secretary of State) will now have to explain how she hopes to get the DUP back to the table, and if that proves impossible, how she is going to take forward issues such as equal marriage, as well as dealing with tough decisions on health, education and infrastructure that have been left unresolved for over 400 days.”