Ireland

Jeffrey Donaldson: Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald 'about to get a surprise' with direct rule

Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy, Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill arriving at Government Buildings in Dublin. Picture by Niall Carson, Press Association
Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy, Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill arriving at Government Buildings in Dublin. Picture by Niall Carson, Press Association Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy, Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill arriving at Government Buildings in Dublin. Picture by Niall Carson, Press Association

DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said that Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald was "about to get a surprise" with reintroduction of direct rule from Westminster.

Speaking to the BBC this morning, Sir Jeffrey said: "We need someone to take the decisions, we need ministers in place to do that and if Sinn Féin aren't prepared to govern then someone has to do it." 

He added that there had been no agreement during any point of negoiations between the DUP and Sinn Féin.

"We didn't have an agreement and the documents will prove that," he said. 

After talks collapsed last week, Sinn Féin claimed a draft deal was in place earlier this month, which included an Irish language act, an Ulster Scots act and a respecting language and diversity act.

Ms McDonald said talks failed due to disagreements with Sinn Féin about legislation for the Irish language.

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Karen Bradley is set to update MPs later today about the next steps in the absence of devolution.

DUP leader Arlene Foster yesterday urged the secretary of state to set a regional budget and to take "key decisions" on education and health policy.

Five days on from pulling the plug on the latest round of negotiations aimed at restoring devolution, the former first minister made her clearest call yet for the imposition of direct rule.

Sinn Féin leadership met Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste Simon Coveney yesterday in Dublin to call for the re-establishment of the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference.

During a phone conversation yesterday with Secretary of State Karen Bradley, Mrs Foster said senior staff working in education, health and infrastructure had been "in limbo for months unsure of budgets and unable to get ministerial direction".

"I am not prepared to allow this to continue – decisions need to be taken," the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said.

Mrs Foster said DUP MPs planned to echo her call today at Westminster and that she would raise the matter when she meets Theresa May later this week.

"I will affirm our commitment to devolution but not at any price," she said.

"I wanted a devolved government – I stand ready to form one tomorrow without any pre-conditions."

The DUP leader said Sinn Féin had refused to form a government "until they have their own party political matters addressed".

Meanwhile, Ms McDonald said a "political vacuum" cannot be allowed to develop in the north.

Speaking after her party's meeting with Mr Varadkar and Mr Coveney, she said a return to direct rule was "not an option".

"The Good Friday Agreement provides for a British Irish Intergovernmental Conference to reflect the co-equal and co-guarantor status of the two governments," she said.

"The two governments must initiate this conference as a matter of urgency and move to implement previous agreements. These include an Irish Language Act, the release of funds for legacy inquests and progress the legacy mechanisms, as well as safeguarding the rights of citizens including the right to marriage equality."

Mr Varadkar spoke to British Prime Minister Theresa May last night following his meeting with Sinn Féin.

An Irish government spokesman said the taoiseach emphasised his opposition to the introduction of direct rule.

"As co-guarantor to the agreement, the government will continue to engage with the parties in Northern Ireland and the British Government to support the urgent formation of a new executive by the mandated political parties," the spokesman said.

"The Government’s firm position is that the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements must be implemented in full, and in this context the taoiseach and tánaiste re-iterated that the Irish Government does not want to see the introduction of direct rule in Northern Ireland."

There had been high hopes in London and Dublin that Sinn Féin and the DUP were on the brinnk of ending a 13-month impasse at Stormont.