Northern Ireland

Michelle O'Neill insists there was no compromise deal vetoed by the Sinn Féin leadership

Michelle O'Neill denied that she had been overruled on efforts to compromise with the DUP. Picture by Mal McCann
Michelle O'Neill denied that she had been overruled on efforts to compromise with the DUP. Picture by Mal McCann Michelle O'Neill denied that she had been overruled on efforts to compromise with the DUP. Picture by Mal McCann

Sinn Féin has sought to quell speculation that Michelle O'Neill's bid to break the Stormont deadlock was vetoed by the party's southern leadership.

It was claimed yesterday that both the British and Irish governments believe Sinn Féin's northern leader was ready to compromise but was overruled when the party's ard comhairle met in Dublin last Saturday.

Senior British government sources were unable to confirm the reports carried by the Irish Times but their Dublin counterparts were adamant that the Sinn Féin northern negotiating team's proposals for restoring devolution had been vetoed.

When Ms O'Neill was questioned about the claims yesterday, she insisted there were currently no grounds for breaking Stormont's nine-month deadlock.

"I said last Thursday that challenges still remain in terms of being able to secure a resolution and being able to get the institutions back up and running but I had no deal or no recommendation even to put to any ard comhairle meeting," the Mid Ulster MLA said.

Asked if she denied the report, Ms O'Neill responded: "I just did".

The Sinn Féin northern leader went on to say that time to strike a deal was running out.

"If the British government and the DUP want a deal, they should end their denial of basic rights which are protected everywhere else on these islands – language rights, marriage equality and the right to proper coroners inquests," she said.

"The institutions only have value if they enjoy the confidence of the people and time is now running out for the DUP and British government to decide whether they are prepared to end their denial of rights and implement previous agreements as basic requirements of any sustainable and credible government."

In a speech to DUP members in Co Tyrone last night, party leader Arlene Foster dismissed any speculation about the talks.

"Predictions of agreements and false briefings will not bounce the DUP," she said.

"Parties playing games with proposals put forward one day and withdrawn the next won’t make the DUP blink either."

She said "solid progress" had been made in the talks but some "hurdles have yet to be overcome", including on a standalone Irish language act.

Mrs Foster added that if Sinn Féin could not reach agreement with her party then direct rule would follow.

"Northern Ireland needs government and if that cannot be achieved at Stormont then Westminster will be required to provide it," she said.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said Sinn Féin and the DUP had brought the north "to the brink of direct rule".

"While crises engulf our health services and our schools, they have talked for month after month and have only delivered failure," he said.

Mr Eastwood said that if no deal was secured the Dublin government needed to stand firm on Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney's assertion that there can be "no British only direct rule".

Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry said the two governments needed to consider fresh approaches to finding agreement.

"It beggars belief that the DUP and Sinn Féin are put this matter of Irish language and culture on such a pedestal that they have lost a sense of proportion and perspective on the wider need to provide good governance to Northern Ireland, to reform out public services, invest in our economy, and to have a proper Brexit plan," he said.

His remarks came as it emerged that former US president Bill Clinton will meet Theresa May today in London to discuss the Stormont crisis.

Earlier yesterday Taoiseach Leo Varadkar clashed with Gerry Adams in the Dáil after the Sinn Féin leader claimed his Fine Gael counterpart had "misled" fellow TDs over comments made about Sinn Féin's health proposals.

The Louth TD also claimed the Fine Gael leader had given an "entirely untruthful" account of the Northern Ireland talks process in government briefings to newspapers.

Describing Sinn Féin's proposed health policies as like "asking people to buy a pig in a poke," the taoiseach denied he had misled the Dáil with his comments.

"You are the great misleader," he said of Mr Adams.