DECISION TIME
» ‘No barriers’ to reforming of the NI Executive » Spectre of mass walkouts hangs over talks
CHRIS Heaton-harris said it is “time for decisions” by the DUP as a petition to recall the Stormont Assembly reached the required number of signatures.
Mass public sector strikes are due to take place across the North on Thursday, as the Secretary of State met the five main political parties in an attempt to resolve the deadlock at Hillsborough Castle yesterday.
While DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said after the talks that “significant progress” had been made in the effort to restore devolution since Christmas, other parties did not share his enthusiasm.
Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O’neill admitted she did not feel positive about the prospect of a deal before Thursday.
Mr Heaton-harris has made an offer of a €3.8billion package for the public sector on the condition Stormont is restored.
Following yesterday’s talks, he said the British government has done “everything it can” to resolve the impasse.
Mr Heaton-harris added: “I’d like to think it’s a very generous financial package that’s on offer for reformation of the Executive which would be attractive to all the parties.
“I believe we’ve done everything we can in the space of the Windsor Framework talks with the DUP, answered all the questions that they’ve put to us appropriately, and now it is time for decisions to be made.
“I also emphasise that the Windsor framework talks with the DUP had effectively concluded.
“I’m pleased to say we were able to make some further progress last week, and today I’ve urged all parties to take the next step and form an Executive.
“It is hard to see any barriers whatsoever to stop this from happening as soon as possible.
“The people of Northern Ireland deserve to have the people they voted for working for them.”
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein, the largest party in May 2022’s Assembly Election, tabled a motion to recall
MLAS, one day before one of the biggest days of industrial action in the North’s history.
Ms O’neill said that motion had garnered the 30 signatures required and that the Assembly would meet tomorrow at noon in an attempt to elect a speaker.
But it’s a move which is likely to be blocked by the DUP if it remains unsatisfied with post-brexit trading arrangements.
She said: “I think it’s fair to say there wasn’t anything that gives us any chink of light.
“That being said, we still think there is an opportunity for the DUP to step up to the plate.
“There is an opportunity for them to end their boycott and there is an opportunity for the DUP to join the rest of us and form an Executive. “I hope to take the next number of days to reflect on that, particularly as I think 170,000 workers will take to the streets on Thursday because they’re being forced to, because of the DUP’S inaction and because of the fact
that this British government have refused to pay proper funding for our public services.”
The leaders of the other political parties also urged the DUP to return to Stormont ahead of the strikes.
At Hillsborough, Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said the Conservative government’s patience with the DUP and the North as a whole has “all but expired”.
She added: “I think the time has now come for us to take control of our own situation.
“Start to make the difficult choices that will be required of all of us in government and start to do it now for the sake of the people that we represent.”
Ulster Unionist chief Doug Beattie said there has been “absolutely no movement” on political talks with the Secretary of State since Christmas.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said it was “scandalous” that workers have been forced to go out on strike. He added: “Let’s avoid the strike on Thursday.
“The people who are forced to go out and strike and give up a day’s pay have nothing to do with this political gamesmanship that’s going on.
“They’re just ordinary workers who we ask to do the most difficult jobs in society who are getting underpaid by any standard.
“They should be entitled to that money and the Secretary of State should get on and pay them.
“He has said that he doesn’t have a legal power but as we all know, the legal power will be hard to find and the British government could bring in a law tomorrow to get these people paid. I think they should get on with it.”
Members of teaching unions and a group for parents of children with special needs also confronted the politicians as they made their way to the talks at Hillsborough.
Workers are entitled to that cash.. SOS should pay them COLUM EASTWOOD YESTERDAY