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Stormont collapse: Power-sharing talks to reconvene Stormont collapse: Power-sharing talks reconvene
(about 2 hours later)
Talks to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland are set to resume amid uncertainty about an anticipated DUP-Conservative parliamentary deal. Talks to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland have resumed amid uncertainty about an anticipated DUP-Conservative parliamentary deal.
Talks aimed at restoring the executive were previously put on hold due to the UK general election.Talks aimed at restoring the executive were previously put on hold due to the UK general election.
The deadline for an agreement to be reached has been extended to 29 June.The deadline for an agreement to be reached has been extended to 29 June.
Speaking ahead of the talks, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said no deal between the Conservatives and the DUP would be good for Northern Ireland.Speaking ahead of the talks, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said no deal between the Conservatives and the DUP would be good for Northern Ireland.
Devolved government in Northern Ireland broke down in January and there has been political deadlock following a snap assembly election in March.Devolved government in Northern Ireland broke down in January and there has been political deadlock following a snap assembly election in March.
Stormont leaders are expected to meet Secretary of State James Brokenshire and the Irish minister for foreign affairs later on Monday. Meanwhile, DUP leader Arlene Foster is due to meet the prime minister on Tuesday to discuss the formation of a DUP-supported Conservative government at Westminster.
Stormont leaders are meeting Secretary of State James Brokenshire and Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan.
If no executive is formed, Mr Brokenshire has warned Northern Ireland may face direct rule.If no executive is formed, Mr Brokenshire has warned Northern Ireland may face direct rule.
The secretary of state said he would continue to chair the talks, despite calls for an "independent broker". As he went into the talks, Mr Flanagan said the Irish government had two key priorities:
"The point is that we have a process already, which involves, yes the UK government, but the Irish government too and also the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service," he said. Mr Brokenshire said he would continue to chair the talks, despite calls for him to be replaced by an "independent broker".
"That is something that was working to bring the parties together, I think that remains absolutely the way to approach this." If there was no agreement by 29 June, Northern Ireland could face direct rule, he added.
He said if there was no agreement by 29 June, Northern Ireland could face direct rule.
Mr Adams said Sinn Féin did not believe that "any deal between the DUP here and the English Tories will be good for the people here".Mr Adams said Sinn Féin did not believe that "any deal between the DUP here and the English Tories will be good for the people here".
"Any deal that undercuts, in any way, the process here or the Good Friday Agreement and other agreements is one that has to be opposed by progressives, and that puts a huge onus on the taoiseach, and there's an incoming taoiseach [Leo Varadkar]," he said.
"I think [outgoing] Taoiseach [Enda] Kenny was right when he expressed concerns about this deal directly with the British prime minister.""I think [outgoing] Taoiseach [Enda] Kenny was right when he expressed concerns about this deal directly with the British prime minister."
Earlier, Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy said it "would be kind to describe Mr Brokenshire as delusional".Earlier, Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy said it "would be kind to describe Mr Brokenshire as delusional".
"His government won't exist unless the DUP allow it to exist and the fact that they will be dependent on them conflicts him even more.""His government won't exist unless the DUP allow it to exist and the fact that they will be dependent on them conflicts him even more."
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said Northern Ireland politics was "in a very, very bad place".
"If James Brokenshire thinks for one second that he can be an independent arbiter... he is absolutely wrong," he said.
"Arlene Foster has got the British government over a barrel - we will not accept that, and the taoiseach should not accept that either."
Leo Varadkar, the new leader of Ireland's Fine Gael party, has said he will raise with Theresa May the importance of impartiality in the Stormont talks.Leo Varadkar, the new leader of Ireland's Fine Gael party, has said he will raise with Theresa May the importance of impartiality in the Stormont talks.
He said it was important that the two governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, should not be too close to either unionism, or nationalists and republicans.He said it was important that the two governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, should not be too close to either unionism, or nationalists and republicans.
Mr Varadkar is expected to become Irish prime minister later this week in a parliamentary vote on Enda Kenny's successor.Mr Varadkar is expected to become Irish prime minister later this week in a parliamentary vote on Enda Kenny's successor.
Analysis - Enda McClafferty, BBC News NI Political CorrespondentAnalysis - Enda McClafferty, BBC News NI Political Correspondent
All the parties will be back at Stormont today, but it is likely that the focus will be on political partnerships in London and not Belfast. At Stormont today, it is likely he focus will be on political partnerships in London and not Belfast.
The DUP is up for supporting a Conservative Government but only if its demands are met.The DUP is up for supporting a Conservative Government but only if its demands are met.
That support will involve backing Theresa May in any confidence vote and supporting her government's budgets.That support will involve backing Theresa May in any confidence vote and supporting her government's budgets.
As yet there are no details on what the DUP wants in return but it is thought its demands will include extra cash for Northern Ireland. As yet there are no details on what the DUP wants in return, but it is thought its demands will include extra cash for Northern Ireland.
But some say the real cost of a deal could be the future of power-sharing in Northern Ireland. But some say the real cost of a deal could be the future of power-sharing.
Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance say any partnership between the DUP and Conservatives could scupper plans to restore the institutions.Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance say any partnership between the DUP and Conservatives could scupper plans to restore the institutions.
It is fast becoming a game of political poker with high stakes.It is fast becoming a game of political poker with high stakes.
The Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan, said he was "looking forward to the talks process getting under way again". The Alliance Party have echoed the SDLP and Sinn Féin's concerns that such a partnership could make power-sharing at Stormont more difficult.
"It is now more important than ever that we have effective devolved government in Northern Ireland, especially with Brexit negotiations due to begin shortly," he said.
"It is absolutely crucial that the voice of Northern Ireland should be heard in these negotiations through a newly-formed power sharing executive."
Meanwhile, DUP leader Arlene Foster is due to meet the prime minister on Tuesday to discuss the formation of a DUP-supported Conservative government at Westminster.
The SDLP and Alliance Party have echoed Sinn Féin's concerns that such a partnership could make power-sharing at Stormont more difficult.
The former Labour secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Peter Hain, told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster a DUP-Conservative arrangement could have a negative impact on the talks.The former Labour secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Peter Hain, told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster a DUP-Conservative arrangement could have a negative impact on the talks.
"My concern is that it jeopardises the neutrality, the non-partisan stance, that a prime minister and a secretary of state must have in relation to Northern Ireland's politics," he said.
"If I, as secretary of state, or for that matter Tony Blair, were seen to be aligned with any one party in Northern Ireland, it would have compromised the trust we needed to build with any other party."
Under Northern Ireland's power-sharing agreement, the executive must be jointly run by unionists and nationalists, with the largest party putting forward a candidate for first minister.Under Northern Ireland's power-sharing agreement, the executive must be jointly run by unionists and nationalists, with the largest party putting forward a candidate for first minister.
Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness quit as deputy first minister in January in protest against the DUP's handling of a botched green energy scheme.Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness quit as deputy first minister in January in protest against the DUP's handling of a botched green energy scheme.
The party said it would not share power with DUP leader Arlene Foster as first minister until the conclusion of a public inquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme.The party said it would not share power with DUP leader Arlene Foster as first minister until the conclusion of a public inquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme.
Mr McGuinness, who had been suffering from a rare heart condition, died earlier this year.Mr McGuinness, who had been suffering from a rare heart condition, died earlier this year.