Northern Ireland

James Brokenshire rules out independent mediator for Stormont talks

James Brokenshire pictured at Downing Street in London as it was confirmed he will remain as Secretary of State in the post-election Tory reshuffle 
James Brokenshire pictured at Downing Street in London as it was confirmed he will remain as Secretary of State in the post-election Tory reshuffle  James Brokenshire pictured at Downing Street in London as it was confirmed he will remain as Secretary of State in the post-election Tory reshuffle 

SECRETARY of State James Brokenshire has dismissed calls for an independent mediator to chair talks to restore powersharing amid criticism his impartiality has been compromised by the anticipated DUP/Conservative parliamentary deal.

Mr Brokenshire said the current process, which involves the British and Irish governments chairing elements of the negotiations and the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service moderating other discussions, was the "right approach".

His comments come as DUP leader Arlene Foster warned Stormont rivals participating in the faltering negotiations the "time for unreasonable behaviour and unrealistic demands is over".

Leo Varadkar, who is due to be elected taoiseach this week, said he would raise the importance of impartiality in power-sharing talks when he speaks to Mrs May.

"Our role as guarantors, here in Dublin and London, is to act as co-guarantors and not to be close to any particular party in the north, whether it's nationalist and republican or unionist," he said.

"That's certainly something I'd emphasise in any contacts that I have with Prime Minister May."

The talks were paused over the General Election campaign.

With the north having been without a powersharing executive since March and without a first and deputy first minister since January, a new three-week process to salvage devolution is starting in Belfast on Monday.

However, a major question mark now hangs over the talks as a result of developments at Westminster.

Meanwhile, Westminster is rife with speculation that the state opening of Parliament may be delayed, after the prime minister's official spokesman declined to confirm it would go ahead on the scheduled date of June 19.

Political rivals of the DUP are adamant the British government can no longer cast itself as a neutral facilitator in the process, given Theresa May's intent to form a minority government with the help of a confidence-and-supply deal with the unionist party.

The dispute has prompted renewed calls for a chair from outside the UK and Ireland to be appointed.

Mr Brokenshire said there was a need to differentiate between politics at Westminster and Stormont.

"It is important to distinguish what happens at Westminster and the votes that take place here, and devolution and the obligations and responsibilities that we hold fast to in relation to Northern Ireland," he said.

Devolution is based on the template laid out in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

The historic accord commits the British government to demonstrate "rigorous impartiality" when dealing with competing political views.

The Secretary of State said the government remained "four square" behind the Good Friday accord.

Asked on Radio Ulster about his views on bringing in an independent chair, he said: "I think the point is that we have a process already which involves, yes, the UK Government, but the Irish Government and also the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (Sir Malcolm McKibbin).

"That was something that was working to bring the parties together.

"I think that remains absolutely the right way to approach this and let's not forget we only have until the 29th June, so let's actually focus on the issues at hand rather than process, let's actually focus on getting people together for the best interests of Northern Ireland - that is what we are focused upon in supporting that work and supporting that effort because that is really how we will take Northern Ireland forward."

A number of deadlines to reach an agreement have already fallen by the wayside since March's snap Assembly poll, which was triggered by the implosion of the last DUP/Sinn Fein-led administration over a dispute about a botched green energy scheme.

The Assembly election campaign exposed many more divisions between the two main parties on issues such as legislative protections for Irish language speakers and how to deal with the legacy of the Troubles.

Mrs Foster said her party remained committed to getting Stormont back up and running.

"I will be engaged with the other local political parties to see if we can achieve agreement to restore our local Assembly and Executive," she wrote in the Belfast Telegraph.

"To those locally who are complaining the loudest about our position of influence, I say to them that the time for unreasonable behaviour and unrealistic demands is over."

In light of events at Westminster, Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny called Mrs May on Sunday to warn her the Good Friday settlement has to be protected.

Sinn Fein, the SDLP and Alliance have all made clear they will not accept reappointed Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire as a talks facilitator.

Mr Brokenshire has warned the latest deadline for agreement - June 29 - was "final and immovable".

He made clear the reintroduction of direct rule from Westminster is on the cards if an agreement does not materialise by that date.

Irish foreign minister Charlie Flanagan said: "It is now more important than ever that we have effective devolved government in Northern Ireland, especially with Brexit negotiations due to begin shortly."

He added: "The Irish Government remains fully committed to ensuring that the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements are upheld and implemented in full."

The institutions collapsed after the late Martin McGuinness quit as deputy first minister in protest at the DUP's handling of the ill-fated renewable heat incentive (RHI) - an eco-scheme that left Stormont facing a £490 million overspend.

Powersharing structures meant Mr McGuinness's move forcibly removed DUP leader Arlene Foster from her job as first minister and triggered March's snap election.