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Stormont collapse: Power-sharing talks reconvene | Stormont collapse: Power-sharing talks reconvene |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Northern Ireland power-sharing talks have resumed amid uncertainty about a parliamentary deal between the Tories and the Democratic Unionist Party. | Northern Ireland power-sharing talks have resumed amid uncertainty about a parliamentary deal between the Tories and the Democratic Unionist Party. |
Negotiations aimed at restoring the Stormont executive were previously put on hold due to the UK general election. | Negotiations aimed at restoring the Stormont 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. |
DUP leader Arlene Foster said her party wanted devolution up and running as soon as possible after a "constructive" meeting with Sinn Féin. | DUP leader Arlene Foster said her party wanted devolution up and running as soon as possible after a "constructive" meeting with Sinn Féin. |
Mrs Foster is due to meet the prime minister on Tuesday to discuss the formation of a DUP-supported Conservative government at Westminster. | Mrs Foster is due to meet the prime minister on Tuesday to discuss the formation of a DUP-supported Conservative government at Westminster. |
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said earlier no deal between the Conservatives and the DUP would be good for Northern Ireland. | Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said earlier 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 meeting Secretary of State James Brokenshire and Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan. | 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. |
As he went into the talks, Mr Flanagan said the Irish government had two key priorities: | As he went into the talks, Mr Flanagan said the Irish government had two key priorities: |
Mr Brokenshire said he would continue to chair the talks, despite calls for him to be replaced by an "independent broker". | Mr Brokenshire said he would continue to chair the talks, despite calls for him to be replaced by an "independent broker". |
If there was no agreement by 29 June, Northern Ireland could face direct rule, he added. | If there was no agreement by 29 June, Northern Ireland could face direct rule, he added. |
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". |
"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". | 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. | "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." | "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 Correspondent | Analysis - Enda McClafferty, BBC News NI Political Correspondent |
At Stormont today, it is likely the 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. | 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 Alliance Party have echoed the SDLP and Sinn Féin's concerns that such a partnership could make power-sharing at Stormont more difficult. | The Alliance Party have echoed the SDLP and 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. |
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. |