Northern Ireland

Do the right thing for the people of Northern Ireland, Julian Smith tells party leaders

NI Secretary of State Julian Smith . Picture Mal McCann
NI Secretary of State Julian Smith . Picture Mal McCann NI Secretary of State Julian Smith . Picture Mal McCann

PARTY leaders in Northern Ireland must "do the right thing for the people", secretary of state Julian Smith said ahead of urgent talks to restore powersharing at Stormont.

He warned the public has seen the quality of public services "decline" and key decisions "kicked into the long grass" without a functioning executive.

He added if an executive cannot be restored then the government will "pursue the decision-making powers that are needed at the earliest opportunity", while also highlighting legal requirements the British parliament to extend same-sex marriage and abortion to Northern Ireland.

Speaking in the Commons, he told MPs: "The duty to legislate will come into effect if the executive is not back up and running before October 21 and my department will shortly begin an awareness campaign to ensure that women and citizens across Northern Ireland are clear as to how we plan to proceed to regulate for these new legal duties".

Mr Smith said the government's preference is such issues are taken forward by a restored assembly and executive.

"But to those who now lobby me and others in government to somehow change the law, I say the only way for these laws to change and to be shaped in the best interests of Northern Ireland is for Northern Ireland party leaders to form an executive and to get back into government.

"To that end, following frustratingly slow pace over the summer due to a range of factors, I will this week work urgently with the Northern Ireland parties and the Irish government to do everything I can to break the logjam and to get Stormont up and running because the time for that is now.

"The party leaders need to show leadership and do the right thing for the people of Northern Ireland."

Mr Smith also said there is a commitment to introduce a historical institutional abuse bill in Westminster "by the end of the year" in the absence of an executive.

Independent Lady Syliva Hermon sought assurances on when such legislation would come forward, adding: "They have been enormously patient, they have suffered for too long, they have waited too long and they deserve compensation - when will it be?"

Mr Smith said he is "confident" the legislation can be brought forward in the "coming weeks".

DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds questioned why legislation connected to Brexit and abortion law could be passed within hours, adding on compensating victims: "There's absolutely no reason why this legislation can't be passed very, very quickly."