Politics

Failure to find agreement means election or direct rule

Secretary of State James Brokenshire said if there was no agreement after Easter the north would face direct rule or another election. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire.
Secretary of State James Brokenshire said if there was no agreement after Easter the north would face direct rule or another election. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire. Secretary of State James Brokenshire said if there was no agreement after Easter the north would face direct rule or another election. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire.

THE north is facing direct rule or a second election unless the next phase of Stormont negotiations delivers agreement.

Secretary of State James Brokenshire issued the ultimatum yesterday as he announced that the current talks would be suspended for up to 10 days.

The negotiations had originally been scheduled to conclude tomorrow but as it became apparent this week that agreement was unlikely, it was decided to give the process a 'soft landing'.

Initial talks in the aftermath of March 2's election lasted for three weeks but also failed to secure agreement.

Bilateral meetings between the parties have been pencilled in for next week ahead of more formal discussions involving the two governments in the week commencing Monday April 24.

So far, no deadline for the third phase of the negotiations has been set but Mr Brokenshire indicated that time was running out.

"If no executive is formed by early May, I will need to take further steps to ensure Northern Ireland has the political stability it needs," he said.

"This is likely to mean, however undesirable, either a second election or a return to decision making from Westminster."

Mr Brokenshire said all the parties had been "actively engaged" and that "some further progress" had been made, including on the formation of an executive and on legacy.

"There is, however, still a lack of agreement between the parties on a small but significant number of issues," he said.

"The restoration of devolved government remains achievable, but more time and a more focused engagement on the critical issues are required."

He said the discussions after Easter would offer a "final opportunity" for the parties to resolve their differences.

The Tory MP confirmed he would commence legislative steps at Westminster that would enable rates bills to be sent out across the north.

He said he would also amend legislation to allow an executive to be formed in early May if a deal materialised but if no consensus was reached, he said the British government would either call another snap election or suspend devolution and reinstate direct rule.

Irish foreign affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said an agreement was not only desirable but achievable.

"All parties have made clear that they want to see the devolved power-sharing institutions up and running," he said.

"That is also the firm objective of both governments and it is clearly the outcome that serves the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland."

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams repeated his assertion that progress could only be made if the DUP signed up to "rights-based" institutions.

As well as an Irish language act and a commitment from the DUP not to block same-sex marriage, his party wants to see a bill of rights as outlined in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and the re-establishment of a forum to allow civic society to contribute to the political process.

"Sinn Fein are quite relaxed about talks continuing for a short while but there has to be progress," said Mr Adams.

"This can't go on indefinitely. If you want a crystallisation about where this impasse is it is about rights."

He said the issues were "modest but important" but warned that without their implementation "the institutions will not be back".

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he was "furious and frustrated" that another deadline had been missed.

"It is up to us as politicians, as the people elected by the public, to get this job done," he said.

"No matter how long it takes we need to get our act together."

He accused other parties of letting their unelected special advisers have too prominent a role in the negotiations.

"I am furious, I am angry, I am frustrated - I don't know how I can look at the public out there when I meet them over the next couple of days that once again we have missed another deadline. I don't think it's good enough," the Foyle MLA said.