Coveney slams MPS taking aim at historic deal
BREXITERS risk the North’s fragile peace by questioning the future of the Good Friday Agreement, the Tanaiste has warned.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney tweeted the 1998 accord was being undermined in some political circles in Britain.
Mr Coveney said: “Talking down [the] Good Friday Agreement because it raises serious and genuine questions of those pursuing Brexit is not only irresponsible but reckless and potentially undermines the foundations of a fragile peace that should never be taken for granted.”
The British and Irish governments have reiterated they are fully committed to the Good Friday Agreement amid a deep political impasse in Stormont.
Mr Coveney’s tweet was directed at Labour MP Kate Hoey and Conservative MPS Daniel Hannan and Owen Paterson after they raised questions over the future of the 20-year-old accord.
Mr Paterson, a former Northern secretary, recently retweeted a commentator’s suggestion that the agreement had outlived its use.
He added the North deserved good government, and health services were falling behind the Coveney rest of the UK without a devolved executive.
Prime Minister Theresa May and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar spoke by phone on Monday night after the DUP and Sinn Fein clashed over the prospect of direct rule being imposed on the North.
Mrs May’s official spokesman said: “The [British] Government remains absolutely steadfastly committed to the Belfast Agreement and is currently working with partners in order to get the devolved administration up and running.
In the House of Commons yesterday Northern Secretary Karen Bradley has committed to provide budget clarity for Northern Ireland’s public services.
She declined to immediately reimpose direct rule from Westminster and raised the prospect of calling another Assembly election.
Ms Bradley said: “I intend to take steps to provide clarity on the budget and will update the House [of Commons] as soon as possible.
“This is clearly not where I want to be but in the absence of an Executive I have no other choice.”