May calls for a final push in Stormont negotiations
THERESA MAY has called for Northern Ireland’s leaders to make “one final push” to end more than a year of political stalemate and restore the powersharing executive.
The Prime Minister said that while “differences remain” she believed that “there is the basis of an agreement” after a day of high-level talks in Belfast, and that she hoped an executive could be “up and running very soon”.
Meanwhile, Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, expressed a similar sentiment as he said he was “very hopeful” of a deal being done this week.
After a series of talks involving the leaders of Sinn Fein and the DUP, the Irish leader said there was a “lot of work to do” but progress was going in the “right direction”.
Arlene Foster, the Democratic Unionist leader, said the tone of the talks had been “very good” and Mary Lou Mcdonald, the Sinn Fein president, said the two parties were “close to an agreement”.
Speaking outside Stormont yesterday evening, Mrs May told reporters: “Today I have been meeting the leaders of the main parties involved in the talks and I have urged them to make one final push for the sake of the people here in Northern Ireland.
“It has been 13 long months since we last saw devolved government here and I think we are now at the point where it is time for the locally elected representatives to find a way to work together and to deal with and tackle the many pressing issues facing Northern Ireland.
“I have had full and frank conversations with the five parties. I’ve also met with the Taoiseach.
“And while some differences remain I believe that it is possible to see the basis of an agreement here. There is the basis of an agreement and it should be possible to see an Executive up and running in Northern Ireland very soon.”