THE threat of joint authority was used by the late Ian Paisley to justify the establishment of the first DUP-Sinn Féin Executive.
Prime minister Theresa May has dismissed the prospect of joint authority, involving London and Dublin running Northern Ireland, should efforts to restore devolution at Stormont fail.
Prompted by a question in Westminster from DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds, she stressed the need to restore devolution but insisted joint authority over the north with the Irish government would not be considered if there is no breakthrough in the seven-month deadlock.
Her remarks came after foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney told reporters on Tuesday that Dublin would be seeking some input into how the north is governed were direct rule to be imposed.
"There can be no British-only direct rule – that is the Irish government's position," Mr Coveney said.
Mrs May said such an arrangement was not possible. The Good Friday Agreement does not give the Republic any role in the governance of Northern Ireland.
There was little clarification from the government, however, when joint authority was spoken about as a possibility had the 2006 St Andrews Agreement not been implemented.
Former DUP leader Ian Paisley warned that joint authority was a possibility to justify his U-turn in deciding to enter powersharing with Sinn Féin in 2007.
He claimed that had the DUP not shared power with Sinn Féin, then such an arrangement would have been imposed.
Eager to see the DUP enter power-sharing, the then Labour government did little to dismiss Dr Paisley's claims.
Then shadow Northern Ireland secretary David Lidington said his party would oppose any moves towards joint authority between London and Dublin "which would be a complete breach of the Good Friday Agreement".
