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THE US Government has joined calls for Jeffrey Donaldson to name a Deputy First Minister at Stormont.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s department said political leaders here should “take the necessary steps to re-establish a power-sharing executive”.
The move came ahead of expected meetings today between Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis and political leaders aimed at restoring a Stormont Executive. The State Department did not mention any political leaders individually.
However, Brandon Lewis has said DUP boss Jeffrey Donaldson needs to nominate a Deputy First Minister and let the UK Government get on with negotiating with the EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
In its statement, the State Department said: “We call on Northern Ireland’s political leaders to take the necessary steps to re-establish a power-sharing executive, which is one of the core institutions established by the Belfast/good Friday Agreement.
“Critical and immediate challenges concerning the economy, health, and education are best addressed through the collective efforts of a devolved government chosen by, and accountable to, its people.
“The United States enjoys a deep and long-standing relationship with Northern Ireland, grounded in ties of kinship, culture, commerce, and shared values.
“We remain deeply committed to preserving the peace dividend of the Belfast/good Friday Agreement and will always strive to protect these gains for all communities.
“We look forward to continuing our work with democratic partners in Northern Ireland, and with the Governments of the United Kingdom and Ireland, to support peace, prosperity, and stability across the region.”
UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has threatened to tear up part of Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal to preserve stability in Northern Ireland.
He said the Government would take “whatever measures are necessary” to fix the agreement.
That is thought to include scrapping elements of the deal.
He added: “If anything, the outcome in Northern Ireland from those elections makes it clear it can’t be put off.”
But he refused to say whether action on the Protocol would feature in tomorrow’s Queen’s Speech.
Shadow Communities Secretary Lisa Nandy said the lack of trust in Mr Johnson was fuelling the crisis.
She added: “We’ll support Sinn Fein in their aim to get the Executive up and running as quickly as possible.”
Meanwhile, Mary Lou Mcdonald called on Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to make clear the DUP’S intention to share the office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister with Michelle O’neill.
The Sinn Fein president told Gavan Reilly on Newstalk: “I just cannot emphasise enough how essential it is for the DUP, for the leader, Jeffrey Donaldson, to be crystal clear now that they will in fact share the office.
“I think that’s essential because it goes to the core of the entire project, not just of peacebuilding, but of developing politics in the north of Ireland, planning for the here and now, delivering for people in the here and now, and also planning for our future”
Deputy Mcdonald said it is not acceptable that the DUP would refuse to share power because it is no longer the biggest party in the North.
She added: “It’s clearly not acceptable for the DUP to refuse to serve with Michelle O’neill simply because, for the first time, we have a republican First Minister and I think that broad opinion right across the country and beyond would find that a very unacceptable position from the DUP.”
Discussing the prospect of an executive not being formed Ms Mcdonald said one must be formed.
She said: “I’m not conceding for a second that there won’t be an executive. There must be an executive. That’s my position.
“We’re only a matter of 24 hours after the count has concluded and what has been a very long election campaign. The people have spoken, each party has received their democratic mandate, the powersharing arrangements are clear”.
Deputy Mcdonald did not openly call for a border poll but urged all the parties in the North to work together.
DUP should be clear now that they will share office MARY LOU MCDONALD ON NEWSTALK