Politics

Adams bemoans lack of DUP engagement but indicates talks could continue next week

Gerry Adams was critical of the DUP's engagement in the talks. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire
Gerry Adams was critical of the DUP's engagement in the talks. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire Gerry Adams was critical of the DUP's engagement in the talks. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire

GERRY Adams has indicated that talks aimed at restoring devolution may continue after Easter but the Sinn Féin leader claimed there needs to be greater engagement from the DUP if there is to be a successful outcome.

The current round of Stormont negotiations is due to conclude this Friday. Last month Secretary of State James Brokenshire said he would consider the reintroduction of direct rule in the north if the efforts failed.

The Tory MP said he would wait until Westminster returned from its Easter break next Tuesday before deciding on his next move, which initially could be introducing legislation to allow rates bills to be sent out.

All the parties have bemoaned the lack of progress in the current process, which came after three weeks of post-election talks failed to secure agreement.

But Mr Adams yesterday suggested that Friday would not necessarily signal the end of the negotiations.

"We're quite relaxed about the British secretary of state allowing the little bit of extra time for things to be sorted out – we ourselves aren't clear when that might be," he said.

"But what we are dead set against is him (the secretary of state) prolonging that by changing legislation."

The Louth TD said it was "decision time" for the DUP, which needed to sign up to a "rights-based" framework that covered the Irish language, same-sex marriage and a civic forum.

"The question for the DUP is very, very simple – do they want to be part of the leadership of a rights-based society or not?"

The Sinn Féin president claimed the level of engagement with his party was unsatisfactory, saying the DUP had only met its negotiating team for bilateral talks twice in four days.

"That is not the best use of time," he said.

"We went looking for the DUP yesterday (Monday) evening and they had left."

But Mr Adams's claims were rejected by DUP negotiator Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.

"I am afraid this is more evidence of Sinn Féin trying to cover their back and trying to prepare the way for yet another walk-out come Friday," said the Lagan Valley MP.

"I predict that Sinn Féin will walk away yet again - just as they did two weeks ago, just as they did in January. They are rapidly becoming the party that walks out on the other parties."

Sir Jeffrey said his party was committed to forming a government and was engaging with Sinn Féin and the other parties.

Meanwhile, Mr Adams said responsibility for resolving legacy matters lay with the British government.

He said the main stumbling blocks were the government's "use of so-called national security interest to give itself a get-out clause" and its refusal to fund Troubles inquests.

Asked if the institutions could be restored without agreement on structures to deal with the legacy of the past, the Sinn Féin leader said: "Arguably yes, but it would be on a very infirm basis."

He added that such a move would "alienate many, many people".

Campaign group Relatives for Justice last night said it would not accept the legacy component of the negotiations being parked.

A spokesman said families who had lost loved ones had been denied their right to effective independent investigations for decades.

"The UK government need to stop hiding behind the DUP in denying families their rights," he said.

"Any attempt to establish an executive in the absence of legacy being finally resolved would be totally inexcusable and unforgivable."

The Northern Ireland Office and the Irish government did not comment on Mr Adams's remarks.