This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-38790764
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Brexit: DUP and Sinn Féin attend Theresa May meeting | Brexit: DUP and Sinn Féin attend Theresa May meeting |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Prime Minister Theresa May is discussing Brexit with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin. | Prime Minister Theresa May is discussing Brexit with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin. |
| She is meeting the parties at a Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) summit in Cardiff, where ministers will discuss support for trade and investment. | She is meeting the parties at a Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) summit in Cardiff, where ministers will discuss support for trade and investment. |
| DUP leader Arlene Foster and Sinn Féin's Northern Ireland leader Michelle O'Neill are attending the meeting. | DUP leader Arlene Foster and Sinn Féin's Northern Ireland leader Michelle O'Neill are attending the meeting. |
| Mrs May will travel to Dublin later to meet Taoiseach Enda Kenny, with Brexit also on the agenda for their talks. | Mrs May will travel to Dublin later to meet Taoiseach Enda Kenny, with Brexit also on the agenda for their talks. |
| The JMC is designed to keep the UK's devolved regions informed about Brexit and it is made up of leaders and ministers from the devolved governments in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. | The JMC is designed to keep the UK's devolved regions informed about Brexit and it is made up of leaders and ministers from the devolved governments in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. |
| Mrs O'Neill is attending the Brexit discussions in her capacity as health minister, while Mrs Foster is also present although she is no longer first minister. | Mrs O'Neill is attending the Brexit discussions in her capacity as health minister, while Mrs Foster is also present although she is no longer first minister. |
| Analysis: Gareth Gordon, BBC News NI political correspondent in Cardiff | Analysis: Gareth Gordon, BBC News NI political correspondent in Cardiff |
| It will be interesting to see the chemistry between DUP leader Arlene Foster and Sinn Féin's newly-appointed Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill at Monday's JMC meeting. | It will be interesting to see the chemistry between DUP leader Arlene Foster and Sinn Féin's newly-appointed Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill at Monday's JMC meeting. |
| But it has not started well - before they had even arrived, Mrs O'Neill said the DUP leader had no right to be here as she is no longer first minister after the collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive. | But it has not started well - before they had even arrived, Mrs O'Neill said the DUP leader had no right to be here as she is no longer first minister after the collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive. |
| The DUP says Mrs Foster is entitled under the law to fulfil some functions of the office, but when I ran into Mrs O'Neill at the airport she said that justification was stretching it. | The DUP says Mrs Foster is entitled under the law to fulfil some functions of the office, but when I ran into Mrs O'Neill at the airport she said that justification was stretching it. |
| Sinn Féin accused the DUP leader of being in denial about losing her ministerial job. | Sinn Féin accused the DUP leader of being in denial about losing her ministerial job. |
| But the DUP replied that Sinn Féin should check the law that enables Mrs Foster to continue to carry out some of her ministerial functions. | But the DUP replied that Sinn Féin should check the law that enables Mrs Foster to continue to carry out some of her ministerial functions. |
| Ahead of the discussions, Mrs O'Neill said the government had "ignored the views of the majority of the people" in Northern Ireland on Brexit. | Ahead of the discussions, Mrs O'Neill said the government had "ignored the views of the majority of the people" in Northern Ireland on Brexit. |
| While the UK as a whole voted to leave the EU in last June's referendum, 56% of people in Northern Ireland wanted to remain inside the union. | While the UK as a whole voted to leave the EU in last June's referendum, 56% of people in Northern Ireland wanted to remain inside the union. |
| "Brexit is clearly bad for the island of Ireland, it's clearly bad for the economy and it's clearly bad in terms of the peace process," she said. | |
| "I don't believe [Mrs May] is listening - I need her to listen to views of the majority of the people of the north who voted to remain within the European Union." | |
| Mrs Foster said it was important that she was present to make sure Northern Ireland has its "voice heard" at the Brexit talks in spite of the political crisis that has led to the collapse of Stormont and the calling of an assembly election. | |
| "Yes, we have particular issues to deal with at home, but we must deal with the issue of exiting the European Union because that doesn't wait for anyone," the former first minister said. | |
| "It's certainly not going to wait for us to get our at together in terms of Northern Ireland." |