| Author (Corporate) | United Kingdom: Prime Minister's Office |
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| Series Title | Speeches |
| Series Details | 13.02.18 |
| Publication Date | 12/02/2018 |
| Content Type | News |
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Background Following a Parliamentary Assembly election in Northern Ireland on the 2 March 2017, Northern Ireland’s political parties failed to reach an agreement by the 27 March 2017 that would allow a new power-sharing Executive to be formed by the due deadline. In order to facilitate further discussions between the parties, the UK Parliament passed legislation immediately prior to dissolution extending the period in which an Executive could be formed until 29 June 2017. Intensive negotiations continued between the parties concerned, notably between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin, but no agreement had been made by 29 June 2017. On the 3 July 2017 the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, made a statement to the House of Commons, in which he said progress had been made in the negotiations and he would give a few more days for a devolved government to be formed. Otherwise, 'direct rule' from from Westminster might have to be introduced. However, despite continuing negotiations no agreement had been made by February 2018. Commentators noted that negotiations between the two key parties, Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) had advanced in early 2018 and that was seen as the context for the visit of the Irish and UK leaders to make a final push for an agreement to restore the devolved government of Northern Ireland.Report of visit by United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May to Northern Ireland on the 12 February 2018 for discussions with the leaders of the political parties who were negotiating to attempt to agree the terms of a power-sharing government following the Assembly Elections of 2 March 2017. Mrs May was joined by the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. No agreement to form a power-sharing government was announced due, it was suggested, to continuing disagreement between the Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party as regards the adoption of an Irish language act. On the 14 February 2018 Arlene Foster, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), announced that breakdown of discussions with Sinn Fein. She said: 'Despite our best efforts, serious and significant gaps remain between ourselves and Sinn Fein especially on the issue of the Irish language. I have made it consistently clear that unionists will not countenance a stand alone or free standing Irish Language Act. Sinn Fein’s insistence on a stand alone Irish Language Act means that we have reached an impasse'. '... I respect the Irish language and those who speak it but in a shared society this cannot be a one-way street. Respect for the unionist and British identity has not been reciprocated'. In a brief statement Sinn Féin said that the DUP had 'collapsed this process' and 'should reflect on their position'. Karen Bradley MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said: 'I would urge everyone to reflect on the circumstances which have led to this and their positions, both now and in the future. The position of the UK Government remains the same: devolved government is in the best interests of everyone in Northern Ireland and is best for the Union. I believe the basis for an accommodation still exists'. The Irish Government expressed its disappointment: 'As co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, the UK and Irish governments have an obligation to uphold and protect the letter and spirit of that Agreement. We will need to reflect in the coming days on how best to do that'. |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/prime-ministers-statement-at-stormont-house |
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| Subject Categories | Politics and International Relations |
| Countries / Regions | Ireland, United Kingdom |
