Sinn Fein says there is ‘no viable proposal for powersharing’
SINN FEIN has accused the British Government of having no viable plan for restoring Northern Ireland powersharing.
Leader Mary Lou McDonald feared “entrenchment and drift” in efforts to resurrect devolved institutions at Stormont which collapsed 13 months ago.
She accused the Government of engaging in a period of reflection which could create a dangerous political vacuum, and reiterated calls for an intergovernmental conference including Dublin.
Republicans and their former Stormont coalition partners the DUP held separate meetings with the Prime Minister at the House of Commons yesterday.
DUP leader Arlene Foster said the Government should act quickly to pass a budget for public services and added she had not contemplated an Irish language act, which is at the heart of the 13-month stand-off.
Ms McDonald said: “We can only surmise from the meeting with the British Prime Minister that the Government does not have a plan, there is not a viable plan for carving a path to the restoration of the institutions.”
She said she was disappointed that a period of reflection had begun.
“Any political vacuum is extremely dangerous.”
She added: “I fear drift, I fear entrenchment, I fear that those elements who were likely never really up for a deal will dig their heels in further and are further emboldened.
“We are at a moment of decision.”
Ms Foster said the Democratic Unionists had not contemplating introducing an Irish language act in Northern Ireland ahead of last week’s failure of negotiations with Sinn Fein.
The DUP chief said a leaked document on talks with Sinn Fein was only one of a number circulated. Broadcaster Eamonn Mallie published on his website a 13-page draft which confirms proposals for Irish and Ulster Scots language commissioners and a central translation unit at Stormont.
Months of inter-party negotiations since then have failed to produce a breakthrough, although the British Government has said progress has been made. Hopes of a deal floundered over the issue of the language act.