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SINN FÉIN’S LEADER in the North Michelle O’Neill has said there should be another election if no deal can be reached on resurrecting power-sharing by the weekend.
Northern Ireland Secretary of State James Brokenshire has set a deadline of Easter for agreement between the parties.
Sinn Féin and the DUP – the two largest parties – have been deadlocked on a deal in the wake of the March election.
O’Neill again accused the unionist party and the British government of failing to address fundamental issues in current talks in a statement today.
“We have been here five weeks during which time Sinn Féin has been fully engaged,” said O’Neill.
Her strongly-worded statement made reference to “bigoted ministerial decisions”, arrogance and short-sightedness:
However, to date there has been no measurable progress. And at this critical period there is no prospect of a political agreement unless the British government and the DUP tackle the fundamental issues, which Martin McGuinness addressed in his letter of resignation.
There can be no return to petty-minded and bigoted ministerial decisions; no return to the treatment of any group of people as second-class citizens; no return to the arrogant disregard for the squandering of public money; and no return to the short-sighted dismissal of the need for genuine reconciliation and peace-building.
Those are the issues which need to be dealt with if we are to take this opportunity to fix what is broken and to move society forward on the basis of equal partnership government and rights for all.
But time is running out. We are now in a critical period and there needs to be substantial movement from both the British Government and the DUP over the coming days. If they again fail to do so then the people should have their say.
The UUP and SDLP reported little progress in talks in comments to reporters on Friday. Mike Nesbitt of the UUP told the BBC it was “deeply, deeply, deeply frustrating” while the SDLP’s Colum Eastwood said the parties were “miles away” from a deal.
Arlene Foster, the DUP leader, said progress had been made in a range of areas but accused certain other parties of “holding up the process in terms of their political demands”.
Sinn Féin finished with 27 seats in the wake of last month’s election, which arose after the party called time on the last power-sharing arrangement due to Foster’s stance on the ‘cash for ash’ controversy.
The DUP remain the largest party – but only just – with 28 seats. The SDLP have 12 seats, the UUP 10 and the Alliance eight. The remaining five seats are divided between the Greens (2), smaller parties and independents.
Some commentators in the North have speculated that both the DUP and Sinn Féin may want another election: the UUP – the main rival unionist party – is currently without a leader after Nesbitt stepped down from the role, and Sinn Féin may be hoping for an increase in support, in the wake of the death of Martin McGuinness and in-depth coverage of his role in the peace process.
Brokenshire gave an Easter deadline for a deal last month. If one couldn’t be reached he said he would bring in legislation that would effectively ramp-up direct rule from London.
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I say go for it. SF ran on a platform of respect and equality last time and almost became the biggest party, to which the DUP have ignored. See if they get the message this time.
@The Risen: Sinn Fein and respect. Good one jamming, keep peddling and shilling.
Alan Brogan. You really don’t have a clue do you. Stop taking the bitter pills they will eat you up.
@Alan Brogan:
Says the biggest dope peddler on social media.
Christy Nolan. Who is a dope peddler??
@The Risen: sf reached out to the unionist people time the unionists step up to the plate there will be no going back to the old ways its time for the unionists to think about the whole of Ireland and unite the island and in the process become a modern party which is what the majority of the people want no going back….
More distraction and a waste of public money from the Shinners.
Maybe the Chuckle Sisters should quit the vanity projects and actually try deal with Brexit, the biggest crisis the hit NI since the days of terrorism.
@Diarmuid: still stuck in the old ways your sound like a broken record at this stage.
@ray.farrelly: “Who is a dope peddler??
Danny Healy-Rea cycling the ring of Kerry?
@Diarmuid: Scissor sisters more like…if WW3 broke out tomorrow the pair would still be arguing.
I agree with them, if they can’t agree well another election it should be then, might open the DUPS eyes a little more
Border polls and elections.
All the pathetic Shinners can offer.
Maybe NI is better off being run by the Tories.
@Diarmuid: the north of Ireland would be better ran by a united Ireland.
@Diarmuid: The Tories dont have a mandate to run the North .Dont you believe in democracy
…. then why have the Shinners just handed power back to Tories.
@Diarmuid: tactics
@Mick Hannigan: And what happens after another election if they still can’t sort themselves out, one is as bad as the other…..
Well that settles it then to be sure, both are now well inside their trenches. The DUP banking on the direct rule they hardly mind, and Sinn Féin eyeing the possibility to become the largest party.
The funeral of Martin McGuinness did nothing then to bring the parties closer together, while it really seemed for a moment as if it could. What a wasted opportunity.
The SF and PIRA equivalent of:
“Is there anything to be said for saying another mass”.
@Mick Tobin: not sure where folks are getting the Unionists want direct rule when the actual truth is it’s SF demanding it indeed the DUP have clearly stated numerous times that they think direct rule would be a complete disaster for NI! SF are banking on it knowing that with direct rule comes the implementation of the Tory austerity cuts that the last assembly were able to kick down the path (for the time being) like the bed room tax, meaning they can then blame DUP/Brits and their voters will believe it. It’s unbelievable the different spin there is in the Republic compared to what’s actually happening politically here in NI by SF, I really don’t have much time for DUP but SF are playing a very dangerous game, one they may very well regret!
@Diarmuid: do you have an off switch ?
Direct rule would be best. No more elections
@Tony Daly: who would that suit the Unionists?Then we have Brexit which could further destabilise the area who would hat suit?
@Tony Daly: Why is that Tony ? Are you in favour of the British ruling part of our your country?
@Just Me: they already rule Northern Ireland.
@Paul Fahey: There is no such place as northern ireland. There is the north of Ireland, there is the west of Ireland, the south of Ireland, and the east of Ireland, all within the island of Ireland and the Irish nation.
@Just Me:
Grow up
@Tony Daly: The Shinners clearly agree with you there Tony.
Whatever happened to “Brits Out”?
@Diarmuid: Sterling expenses happened.
@P.J. Nolan: gchq?
@Tony Daly:
Really Tony?….come on now……..
I am at a loss for words here, I am struggling to find any logic or common sense to your comment.
Both parties putting self interest first and prepared to gamble and squander away the future of the children of the North who have grown up with 20 years of peace
@Martin Fahy: Thats not true Martin, the SF position ( im a sf cllr ) is straight forward and clear – agreements made in the past must be honoured – immediately – thereby lifting, instantly, this occasional car crash leading to collapse scenario that we are currently in, acht na Gaelige was agreed years ago – had it been implemented that wouldn’t have been an issue – legacy funding also agreed upon and had it been honoured there wouldn’t have been an issue. RHI is still live and anything we have asked people implicated in that to do is consistent with practice in both the private and public sector. At the commencement of the last mandate we took, finance, health and infrastructure as our three ministries – hinting to me anyway – that we were serious about making this system work and dealing with the backlogged issues – meanwhile our partners in government were doing exactly what you suggested – i.e. looking after themselves and their friends. The search for equivalence is almost as destabilising to the institutions and north as is bad faith from any of the parties.
Jesus not another election
@Nash: Why not m8?
Nice if moderate parties SDLP and official Unionists got more seats and could form a government…..Let SF and DUP go into opposition for a while…They have been in power for 10 years now….
@John003: stop peddling this myth that somehow the SDLP and UUP could agree in the morning and everything would be rosy. Both parties have been part of the same executive as SF and DUP for the last 10 years too. SDLP hasn’t voted for a budget once during any of this and they lecture everyone else on responsibility ? UUP doesn’t know its proverbial from its elbow and the SDLP substitute opportunistic whinging for policy. These parties don’t have a shared position on the very issues that caused the 1st election so what makes you think they could sort it ? Robin Swann, newly elected UUP leader was on BBC ulster this morning and did everything he could to avoid expressing support for an Irish language act in any form. It was only last year that the UUP was jumping into bed with the DUP in a sectarian voter pact to keep nationalists out so stop making out that both the SDLP and UUP are this liberal, progressive force for good that keeps being excluded by the sectarian knuckle draggers. Not true. SF vote has surged because of unionist antipathy- they have a mandate to fight tooth and nail not to jump back in with an unrepentant, unreformed DUP. Deal with it.
@John003: It is a complete myth that the UUP represent the middle ground. I’d love to know where you got the notion from.
Let’s not forget that the UUP misruled the North for 50 years when they had their hands on power. As for some sort of SDLP/UUP alternative, we’ve been there before. When the Assembly returned after ’98 the SDLP/UUP Executive egos famously detested each other.
Since then, both have saw their standing eroded in five successive Assembly elections (though the UUP managed a massive 0.3% increase this year).
@John003: The UUP are not a moderate party. They are DUP light.
Big gamble, don’t think they will get the same level of seats as they just did.
Indeed. So actually I think Sinn Féin are also banking on direct rule, so as to capitalize on it in a later election. Which would still be quite a gamble.
The Irish Government need to come out of their cowardly cocoon and confront the British government that their (not so) covert support for the DUP IS A DISGRACE. The ultimatum must be given
The ultimatum must be given No Surrender……
Nothing to do with the Irish Government, let them look after their own mess up there, we have enough to worry about down here.
I would guess neither want to deal with Brexit. So if it turns out that London take over then both can equally say that getting the best deal for Northern Ireland is out of their control and blame each other together with London, Dublin and Brussels when things go pear shaped. This is politicians preforming self (and party) preservation, it would suit the DUP and Sinn Fein not to have to make any hard decision when it comes to Brexit and then being able to blame anyone but themselves. Sinn Fein & the DUP care feck all for their constituents but want to look like they do. This is why there is the current impasse. I hope Brokenshire carries through on his idea of – no assembly – no salary for assembly staff. That might make some of them think again.
Well that may back fire big-time.. The unionist are talking about a pact and if that comes off SF may return in a weakened position and the DUP may have the 30 required to issue “motions of concern”. Also unionist that stayed at home last time may turn up in bigger numbers in a new election. This may not end up well for SF and the DUP may want the election that SF are threatening.
End partition, remove the imposed border send brokenshire back home
This time there will be a stronger unionist vote…the last result shocked them. Many didn’t believe is starting to even out.
@Darren Mccarthy: Thing is the nationalists will be well aware of that and probably turn out even stronger themselves. There are of course the people who are neither nationalist or unionist and who just want to get on with the day to day and they’re the ones to get out voting…
@Darren Mccarthy: If a new vote is held it may well just (after consuming time, money and political energy) produce a similar result – and in any case, will almost certainly leave SF and the DUP as the two largest parties needing to reach agreement with each other. Last time out, many unionists were very clearly angry/frustrated with the DUP over the heating issue and withheld or transferred votes to Alliance and the SDLP. Some may feel they have delivered their sanction/warning adequately and revert previous patterns. Another bitter election campaign doesn’t seem to be likely to help SF and the DUP reach the agreement with each other that they need to get to.
Nobody wants the 6 counties
Cut the North off sail out in sea and fend for itself… Be answer for all concerned here in republic and also UK. Make sure jerry and his buddies and and Arlene and hers are only ones on it.
Wake up Ireland can’t afford another 6 counties, we can’t even look after 26 we have.
@Joseph Molloy: it’s not about 26 plus 6 – we need a rewriting of both societies & time to call time on corruption, bigotry & intolerance- time for the DUP to come out of the cave
The north can keep the six counties nobody wants them
We’ll
have your say