James Brokenshire in Belfast in last ditch attempt to restore Stormont government
2 min read
Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire is to meet party leaders in Belfast today in a final bid to stop direct rule from Westminster.
Last week, Sinn Fein rejected Arlene Foster’s call for restoring the devolved government.
Talks have largely been held up by issues surrounding an Irish language act, equality legislation and legacy issues.
Civil servants have been left in charge of the country since January when ten years of power-sharing broke down after a scandal over a renewable heating scheme.
With no agreed budget and no ministers in office the health and education services are in crisis.
Last week Sinn Fein rejected calls from the DUP to immediately restore a power-sharing government.
The party said restoring government in Northern Ireland under the current circumstances would only lead to another collapse.
Sinn Fein leader Michelle O’Neill said last week: “Establishing an Executive that may collapse after a matter of months on the same issues will only fail all our people.
“Let’s agree to quickly conclude talks on implementation and rights, that is the only way to build a sustainable Executive that will last.”
In a press conference Ms O’Neill added that the DUP had failed to “embrace the principles of power-sharing”.
"They have acted disrespectfully towards Irish identity and Irish culture. They have failed to deliver people their rights. Whether that be marriage rights, language rights, economic rights or cultural rights,” she said.
"That has been the problem at the heart of the political rights: the fundamental issue of rights."
Veteran party president Gerry Adams has also said that a language act is crucial to devolution restarting.
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