Race against time to reach power-sharing agreement
DUP and Sinn Fein given grace period of few weeks after talks fail
POLITICIANS in Northern Ireland have been given a grace period of a “short few weeks” to form a power-sharing executive, James Brokenshire, the Secretary of State, has made clear.
With yesterday’s 4pm deadline for the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein to form a new executive having lapsed, the UK Government is faced with either calling yet another election or reintroducing direct rule.
Speaking outside Stormont House, Mr Brokenshire said there was “no appetite” for another poll.
The cross-party talks broke down amid recriminations with the two main parties blaming each other. The DUP claimed Sinn Fein was “not in agreement-finding mode” during the talks to save the political institutions, while Sinn Fein insisted the DUP did not have “the right attitude”.
Without an executive or agreed budget for the forthcoming financial year, control of Stormont’s finances will be handed to a senior civil servant tomorrow.
Mr Brokenshire said this was “not sustainable”, indicating the final window for negotiations would not be allowed to drift. “There are a short few weeks in order to resolve matters,” he declared.
“The reason I say that is because of the stark issue in relation to public services here in Northern Ireland.”
The DUP/Sinn Fein administration collapsed in January amid a bitter row over a botched green energy scheme.
The subsequent snap election campaign laid bare a range of other contentious issues dividing the parties.
Mr Brokenshire rejected criticism of the UK Government’s handling of the talks to form a new executive and defended the fact Prime Minister Theresa May had not participated in the process.
Under current legislation, the Government is required to call another election if a deadline for forming an executive passes.
However, there is some room for manoeuvre as there is no obligation to set a poll date immediately, rather, the law states it should happen within a “reasonable period”.
Mr Brokenshire said there was “an overwhelming desire” among politicians and the public for “strong and stable devolved government”.
In the fall-out, DUP leader Arlene Foster claimed Sinn Fein’s “inflexible” approach to negotiations was to blame and stressed she did not believe another election would solve anything.
“We are just disappointed that Sinn Fein did not come to the talks inthesamespiritaswecametothe talks,” she added.
But Michelle O’Neill, the Sinn Fein leader, claimed the DUP had failed to live up to previous agreements and was standing in the way of progressive policies.
“We came at the negotiations with the right attitude, wanting to make the institutions work, wanting to deliver for all citizens,” declared Ms O’Neill.
“Unfortunately, the DUP maintained their position in relation to blocking equality, delivery of equality for citizens; that was the problem,” she added.