THE PROSPECTS for a speedy restoration of the Stormont administration appeared remote last night as the DUP continued to call for "decisive action" on the Northern Ireland Protocol before it will join an executive.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he expected to speak to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson today in London, however, the Tory leader has signalled that he won't be personally involved in talks to fully restore the devolved institutions.
Downing Street yesterday said Secretary of State Brandon Lewis would lead any negotiations between the parties, as a spokesman stressed that people in Northern Ireland "deserve a stable and accountable devolved government".
The DUP leader is likely to be further unnerved by an expected reference to Irish language legislation in today's Queen's Speech where the Tory's programme for government will be outlined.
In response to a question yesterday from The Irish News, Sinn Féin President Mary-Lou McDonald said she had received assurances over the long-awaited legislation during her party's earlier meeting with the secretary of sate.
Westminster has been poised for months to legislate on the cultural and language package agreed as part 2020's New Decade, New Approach deal.
"The commitment now is that there will be reference to Acht na Gaeilge in the Queen's Speech and that legislation will be brought forward very soon," she said.
"We don't have a precise date but we again have a very precise commitment, and this is a long running saga and a really unnecessary drama around recognising the rights of Irish language speakers and people's cultural identity."
Mrs McDonald said the British government had "an obligation to act", adding that the delay had "fuelled great anger".
Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill said there could be no delay to the restoration of the executive and her nomination as first minister, in the wake of her party's resounding election victory.
She said she had met the secretary of state and spoken with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, ahead of engagement with other party leaders.
"My message is clear – as democrats, the DUP, but also the British government, must accept and respect the democratic outcome of this election," the Mid Ulster MLA said.
"Brinkmanship will not be tolerated where the north of Ireland becomes collateral damage in a game of chicken with the European Commission."
Ms O'Neill said responsibility for finding solutions to the protocol lay with Boris Johnson and the EU.
"But make no mistake, we and our business community here will not be held to ransom," she said.
However, there appears to be little likelihood of an immediate breakthrough, with Sir Jeffrey insisting his position on restoring the executive.
"We want to see stable political institutions, we want to be part of the executive, we want to play our part and fulfil the mandate we were given by the people of Northern Ireland," he said after meeting Mr Lewis.
"We are also clear given the damage and harmful impact the protocol continues to have on Northern Ireland, driving up the cost of living, harming our economy, impeding the ability of businesses to trade with our biggest market and fundamentally undermining political stability, undermining the principle of consensus politics."
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said she wanted to get negotiations on a programme for government and budget under way as soon as possible.
"We're going to see a functioning Assembly hopefully pretty soon, that will be the easier part of all of this, but to get a functioning executive we need the DUP to step up to the plate," she said.
"With power comes responsibility, and people now need to take the responsibility seriously."
Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said that if the protocol was the obstacle to a functioning executive at Stormont, then it needed to be dealt with.
"If the obstacle to doing that is the protocol then we need to deal with the protocol," he said.
"We all know what the landing zone is, no checks on goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland if they are staying in Northern Ireland."
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood urged the DUP to nominate ministers for a new executive.
"We know who got the mandates, we will support them when we have to, we will also hold them to account, but they should get on with it today and form a government," he said.
Speaking after meeting with the five leaders individually, Mr Lewis said: "Northern Ireland’s party leaders must come together to agree a way forward to deliver a stable and accountable devolved government."
He claimed the protocol in its current form was "fundamentally undermining" the Good Friday Agreement.
