Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
O’neill calls for ‘delivery’ in Stormont negotiations
STORMONT negotiations will require more than
“nice words” to restore the Executive, Michelle O’neill has claimed.
The warning came after a day of talks involving Northern Ireland’s five main political parties and Secretary of State James Brokenshire.
Sinn Fein’s Northern Ireland leader said: “It’s certainly been useful in terms of the engagement we’ve had and in terms of understanding positions.
“But really what we need to see is more than nice words.
“We need to see delivery, we need to see outstanding agreements implemented, we need to see rights delivered for all citizens, and that’s the basis that we can form a sustainable Executive and one that can actually stand the test of time.”
She added her party remains committed to the return of powersharing.
Sinn Fein has previously said there can be no return to government without assurances from the DUP that a standalone Irish language act will be introduced, as well as legislation to introduce marriage rights for same-sex couples.
The DUP has insisted it has no preconditions for returning to government.
Arlene Foster has suggested crosscommunity laws could be introduced to protect the rights of Irish language and Ulster Scots speakers.