Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SNAP POLL ‘MAKE OR BREAK’
Foster’s Stormont talks fears over Dail election
A SNAP poll in the Republic would further hit efforts to restore Stormont, DUP leader Arlene Foster said yesterday.
She claimed a general election campaign would draw Sinn Fein’s focus away from finding a deal to the long-running impasse.
Prime Minister Theresa May has signalled a desire for Northern Ireland’s two main parties to re-engage in talks next week but that prospect looks unlikely given the deteriorating state of relations between them. The gulf appeared to widen rather than narrow this week, with rows about the legacy of the Troubles adding to the obstacles blocking a return to devolved government.
Mrs Foster said a poll in the Republic following a no confidence motion against Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald would reduce the chances of a breakthrough in the short term. In an interview with BBC Radio Ulster’s Inside Politics show, she added: “Certainly in respect of the Stormont talks I assume that if an election was called in the Republic of Ireland that Sinn Fein’s focus will be entirely on Dublin and the elections down there.
“So I think it would have a huge impact on whether we would be able to bring around devolution this year to Northern Ireland and, as I understand, the election would have to take place before Christmas, so that means December would really be out in terms of the talks.”
“But we are not there yet, let’s wait and see what happens in Dublin over the coming days.”