Power share talks end in acrimony

POLITICS: Powersharing talks in Northern Ireland have ended in acrimony. Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster said there was no current prospect of restoring the devolved government.

POWERSHARING TALKS in Northern Ireland have ended in acrimony.

Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster said there was no current prospect of restoring the devolved government after failing to clinch agreement on touchstone issues such as the treatment of the Irish language.

Sinn Fein’s Northern Ireland chief Michelle O’Neill said the party had stretched itself and blamed the DUP for collapsing a process aimed at rebuilding coalition government at Stormont after a 13-month suspension.

The republican party wants a standalone piece of legislation to protect Irish speakers – an Irish Language Act – but the DUP has long insisted it would only countenance new laws if they also incorporate other cultures, such as Ulster Scots.

Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley said “substantive progress” had been made but conceded “this phase of talks has reached a conclusion”.

Mrs Foster said attempts to find a stable and sustainable resolution had been unsuccessful.

She said: “We cannot and will not be held to ransom by those who have refused to form an Executive for over 13 months.”

She added there was no “current prospect” of these discussions leading to a ministerial Executive being formed. “It is now incumbent upon Her Majesty’s Government to set a budget and start making policy decisions about our schools, hospitals and infrastructure.

“Important decisions impacting on everyone in Northern Ireland have been sitting in limbo for too long.”

Months of ongoing talks have been held since power sharing collapsed early last year in a row over the DUP’s handling of a botched green energy scheme.

Since then divisions over issues including Irish language rights, same-sex marriage and how to deal with the legacy of Northern Ireland’s troubled past have proved insurmountable.

Mrs O’Neill said: “Sinn Fein engaged, we worked in good faith, we stretched ourselves.

“We had reached an accommodation with the leadership of the DUP. The DUP failed to close the deal. They have now collapsed this process.”

The implosion came despite Monday’s last minute intervention by Prime Minister Theresa May and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who travelled to Stormont for talks with the parties.

The British Government now faces the prospect of having to step in and take over previously devolved decisions in Northern Ireland.

Stormont departments have been without ministers for months and decisions need to be made speedily about the next financial year’s public spending budgets.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he regretted the statement from the DUP.

Important decisions have been sitting in limbo for too long.

Arlene Foster, Democratic Unionist leader