Northern Ireland

Theresa May and Enda Kenny push for solution to end Stormont impasse

British Prime Minister Theresa May. Picture by Niall Carson, Press Association 
British Prime Minister Theresa May. Picture by Niall Carson, Press Association  British Prime Minister Theresa May. Picture by Niall Carson, Press Association 

THERESA May and Enda Kenny have ordered government ministers to open urgent talks with parties in Northern Ireland in an attempt to restore devolution.

After a snap election radically altered the face of the Stormont Assembly, abolishing for the first time the overall unionist majority, political leaders have three weeks to form an executive.

But the two main parties, the Democratic Unionist Party and Irish republicans Sinn Fein, are on a collision course over Arlene Foster's leadership.

Sinn Fein have refused to pull back from its red line that the DUP leader can not be reinstated as first minister while an inquiry is ongoing into alleged corruption and misuse of public money in a heating scheme scandal that forced last week's snap poll.

The DUP has insisted Sinn Fein can not dictate who they nominate to lead the party in any restored Stormont Executive.

Mrs May and Mr Kenny held a 15-minute telephone conversation on Sunday about the election outcome.

They have ordered Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire and Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan to meet all political parties on Wednesday "with a view to re-establishing a functioning executive as soon as possible, and to address outstanding issues under the agreements".

Two two leaders agreed to discuss the issue again at the EU council summit in Brussels on Thursday.

In separate co-ordinated statements on Sunday, both Mr Brokenshire and Mr Flanagan warned there was a "limited window" to resolve differences and get a functioning parliament back up and running.

Mr Brokenshire said responsibility lies on the shoulders of both the DUP and Sinn Fein.

The Secretary of State added "confidential" talks would start immediately to resolve other outstanding issues over the full implementation of peace agreements in the region and how the legacy of the Troubles is addressed.

Mr Flanagan said it was of the utmost importance for the people of Northern Ireland that the political institutions, established under the Good Friday Agreement, promptly resume "not least so that they can effectively engage with the issues raised by Brexit".

However, Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd, education minister in a previous executive, signalled a looming deadlock.

"If the DUP decide after the implementation talks that will take place over the next number of weeks that they are going to nominate Arlene Foster as joint first minister, Sinn Fein will not support that nomination," he said.

"We were very clear on the doorsteps, we were very clear during the election and we have a mandate, and we said to people we would not support Arlene Foster as joint first minister ahead of the publication of the RHI report."

After a snap election radically altered the face of the Stormont Assembly - abolishing for the first time the overall unionist majority - political leaders have three weeks to form an executive
After a snap election radically altered the face of the Stormont Assembly - abolishing for the first time the overall unionist majority - political leaders have three weeks to form an executive After a snap election radically altered the face of the Stormont Assembly - abolishing for the first time the overall unionist majority - political leaders have three weeks to form an executive

Former deputy first minister Martin McGuinness collapsed the last Assembly by resigning over Ms Foster's refusal to step aside pending an inquiry into the renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme.

The botched green energy initiative has been embroiled in controversy and could cost the Northern Ireland taxpayers £490 million.

An inquiry into its operation is not expected to make any findings for at least six months.

Mr O'Dowd said there is a "recipe for a stable executive and assembly" but warned the issues that forced the snap election could not be ignored.

"Alleged corruption at the heart of the government, alleged incompetence at the heart of government," he said, adding the high turnout at the polls showed the public are "very, very tuned in" to the scandal.

But the DUP's Simon Hamilton, economy minister up until the assembly's collapse, said Ms Foster has a mandate to lead her party.

"We can't have the sort of powersharing John is talking about whenever you have diktats coming from Sinn Fein about who leads and who heads up the DUP in government," he told BBC's Sunday Politics.

"I have heard a lot from Sinn Fein over the last number of weeks about respect, but they are not respecting the mandate that the DUP has received, and that mandate endorsed Arlene Foster."

The pro-Brexit DUP narrowly remained the region's largest party by just one seat as a Sinn Fein surge saw the republican party make major gains over the DUP.

Having entered the election 10 seats ahead of Sinn Fein, the DUP's advantage was slashed to a solitary seat.

Only 1,168 first preference votes separate the DUP and Sinn Fein and, for the first time, Unionists will not have an overall majority at Stormont.

Amid the fallout, Mike Nesbitt said he would resign as Ulster Unionist leader.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has said the "perpetual unionist majority" at Stormont has been "demolished".

On Sunday, Mr Adams took aim at the Conservative government in London, saying they are "part of the problem" of the political crisis in Northern Ireland.

"The British government refuses to implement the agreements on legacy and has sought immunity for their soldiers and agents," he said.

"They have set aside the concept of consent, and undermined human rights safeguards, in seeking to impose Brexit against the will of the majority of voters in the north.

"The British government has given up all pretence of independence.

"The Tory party stood in the recent election and was rejected again by the electorate receiving only 2,379 votes.

"They are not neutral arbitrators.

"They have refused to implement and honour their agreements and responsibilities.

"They are part of the problem."

Mr Adams also attacked the Irish government for not holding London to account as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement.

But the Sinn Fein leader said his party will be at Stormont on Monday to "engage positively with all the other parties" to find a way forward.

It is understood Mr Brokenshire will meet with all five main party leaders on Monday "on a bilateral basis" ahead of talks including Mr Flanagan on Wednesday.