‘Irish was not going to be compulsory’ in failed SF draft deal

May disappointed at breakdown

MARY LOU McDonald spelled out details of her party’s draft deal with the Democratic Unionist Party yesterday after it was torpedoed by Arlene Foster following consultation with DUP colleagues. Ms McDonald, who has not appeared in the Dáil since her installation last weekend as the new leader of Sinn Féin, complained about ‘mistruths and inaccuracies’ being peddled about what was in the outline deal.

It had included three Acts, she said – one for Irish, one for Ulster Scots, and a Respecting Language and Diversity Act. The first would have provided official recognition for Gaeilge and created an Irish Language Commissioner.

It would have meant the repeal on the ban on the use of Irish in the Northern Ireland courts, but ‘at no stage was it envisaged to make Irish compulsory for anybody, or to apply quotas to the public Deal: Mary Lou McDonald services. These were not considerations.’

Ms McDonald said there had been no meeting of minds on marriage equality. ‘We did, however, anticipate that the issue would be fully considered by an incoming Assembly in the form of a private members’ bill, and it was acknowledged that no party alone could table a petition of concern.’ Such a petition from the DUP in the past has blocked same-sex marriage in the North.

Sinn Féin had separately accepted in the draft agree- ment a DUP proposal to ensure the stability of the institutions, she said.

British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke to both Arlene Foster and Mary Lou McDonald last night by phone, to express her disappointment at the breakdown and reiterated to them that the British government ‘remains absolutely committed to restoring an Executive’.

A spokeswoman said: ‘The Prime Minister was clear that she still believes the basis for an agreement exists. She urged them both to reflect in order to find the best way forward.’

But she also said the UK government had a responsibility to consider what needed to be done to protect the interests of Northern Ireland in the ongoing absence of an Executive.

Karen Bradley, the Northern Secretary, is to continue to work with the parties and the Government, the spokeswoman said, in the hope of getting a deal back on track.

Meanwhile Mitchell Reiss, a former US Special Envoy, said America stood ready and willing to assist if needed, although there were hopes that a dialogue could be restored.

Before Christmas, the Government had mooted the use of the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC), which would allow for greater input from Dublin in the direct rule of the North, rather than hold elections.

While the Irish government switched to a softer tone yesterday, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood urged the Irish Government to press for such a move to chart the way forward in the absence of devolution.

The BIIGC gives the Irish Government a consultative role in ‘non-devolved’ issues in the North. It was last convened in 2007, before a historic DUP/Sinn Féin power-sharing deal later that year, although it would require the British government’s agreement.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney, meanwhile, attacked Fianna Fáil leader Mícheál Martin for ‘tweeting within an hour’ of the talks breakdown.