The first and deputy first ministers have been so far unsuccessful in their efforts to secure a face-to-face talks with Rishi Sunak to discuss Stormont’s finances.
A month ago Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly said they had asked for a meeting with the British prime minister as part of efforts to secure what the Sinn Féin deputy leader termed a “proper funding model” from the Treasury.
The request was made at a meeting with Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris in Belfast.
Ms O’Neill told an impromptu press conference afterwards that the executive was committed to the transformation of pubic services.
“But we need investment upfront in which to do that – so that’s the case that we’ve made today,” she said.
“And alongside that, we’ve actually asked for a meeting with the prime minister now because we think we now need it to be elevated to that level.”
However, in the weeks since, no meeting has taken place, while Downing Street has indicated that none is scheduled. Mr Sunak last visited Northern Ireland in February following the restoration of the devolved institutions.
The Irish News asked the Executive Office on Wednesday for an update on efforts to secure a meeting with the prime minister but received no response.
A statement from Downing Street said the British government’s priority had always been “to support sustainable public finances and services in Northern Ireland”.
“That is why we are working towards new funding arrangements for the Northern Ireland Executive and investment in its future, as committed to in the restoration financial package alongside the Safeguarding the Union command paper,” the statement said.
“The Northern Ireland secretary regularly engages with the Northern Ireland Executive, and the UK government holds frequent discussions with all devolved administrations at both ministerial and official level to deliver for people across the whole of the UK.”
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the Tories had “underfunded the north for the best part of 14 years”.
“The SDLP supports a change to the funding model but trying to get a meeting with Rishi Sunak won’t sort it - we need to get the Tories out of power,” the Foyle MP said.
“That’s our focus and it should be the focus of all parties who want a fair deal for people and public services here.”
