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| Northern Ireland power-sharing talks extended after deadline passes | Northern Ireland power-sharing talks extended after deadline passes |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| DUP says there has been no breakthrough in negotiations to restore devolution, and talks could run on until Monday | |
| Henry McDonald Ireland correspondent | |
| Thu 29 Jun 2017 17.45 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 21.00 GMT | |
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| Negotiations to restore power-sharing government in Northern Ireland have been extended to yet another round of all-party discussions, the government has said. | Negotiations to restore power-sharing government in Northern Ireland have been extended to yet another round of all-party discussions, the government has said. |
| A 29 June deadline had been originally imposed by the secretary of state for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire before the general election, but the main parties in the Stormont assembly have been given more time to reach a deal to bring back devolution. | A 29 June deadline had been originally imposed by the secretary of state for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire before the general election, but the main parties in the Stormont assembly have been given more time to reach a deal to bring back devolution. |
| Earlier on Thursday there had been hints from the Democratic Unionist party ahead of the 4pm deadline that the discussions could be stretched out for another few days. | Earlier on Thursday there had been hints from the Democratic Unionist party ahead of the 4pm deadline that the discussions could be stretched out for another few days. |
| DUP negotiator Edwin Poots said there had been no breakthrough on Thursday but added that the talks could run over the weekend and into Monday. | DUP negotiator Edwin Poots said there had been no breakthrough on Thursday but added that the talks could run over the weekend and into Monday. |
| Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy said it was “make your mind up time for the DUP”. He said: “The British government must accept its responsibility for the failure to reach agreement to date. Its alliance with the DUP has deepened DUP intransigence and arrogance and emboldened its anti-rights, anti-equality agenda. | Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy said it was “make your mind up time for the DUP”. He said: “The British government must accept its responsibility for the failure to reach agreement to date. Its alliance with the DUP has deepened DUP intransigence and arrogance and emboldened its anti-rights, anti-equality agenda. |
| “That isn’t acceptable or sustainable. Sinn Féin wants to see the institutions restored but that must be on a credible and sustainable basis, with equality and respect at their core and commanding public confidence.” | “That isn’t acceptable or sustainable. Sinn Féin wants to see the institutions restored but that must be on a credible and sustainable basis, with equality and respect at their core and commanding public confidence.” |
| He added that Sinn Féin had told Brokenshire that it “will not countenance any return to direct rule”. | He added that Sinn Féin had told Brokenshire that it “will not countenance any return to direct rule”. |
| Naomi Long, the leader of the cross-community Alliance party said the two main parties, the DUP and Sinn Féin, were guilty in particular of a “breach of trust” with the public. | Naomi Long, the leader of the cross-community Alliance party said the two main parties, the DUP and Sinn Féin, were guilty in particular of a “breach of trust” with the public. |
| The main barricade on the road to the restoration of the Northern Ireland power-sharing executive remains the issue of an Irish Language Act – a key Sinn Féin demand. | The main barricade on the road to the restoration of the Northern Ireland power-sharing executive remains the issue of an Irish Language Act – a key Sinn Féin demand. |
| Sinn Féin wants an Irish Language Act to be a “standalone” one, which means that it would only concern the rights of Irish speakers and putting the Gaelic language on an equal par in law to English. | Sinn Féin wants an Irish Language Act to be a “standalone” one, which means that it would only concern the rights of Irish speakers and putting the Gaelic language on an equal par in law to English. |
| The DUP meanwhile, fearing criticism from more hardline unionists, has argued for a more extensive Culture Act that would not only guarantee the rights of those who speak Irish but also those of Ulster Scots speakers, as well as incorporating the protection of Protestant Orange culture into the legislation. | The DUP meanwhile, fearing criticism from more hardline unionists, has argued for a more extensive Culture Act that would not only guarantee the rights of those who speak Irish but also those of Ulster Scots speakers, as well as incorporating the protection of Protestant Orange culture into the legislation. |
| Just after the deadline, a Downing Street spokeswoman stressed that its passing “does not mean the efforts to restore the executive are ending”. | Just after the deadline, a Downing Street spokeswoman stressed that its passing “does not mean the efforts to restore the executive are ending”. |
| “We are now allowing the parties space to continue the discussions,” she said. | “We are now allowing the parties space to continue the discussions,” she said. |
| The Downing Street spokeswoman emphasised that there had been “very good progress” made in the talks. | The Downing Street spokeswoman emphasised that there had been “very good progress” made in the talks. |
| “We believe a resolution can be found and we are urging the parties to continue focusing their efforts on achieving it,” she added. | “We believe a resolution can be found and we are urging the parties to continue focusing their efforts on achieving it,” she added. |
| Brokenshire will make a statement to the House of Commons on Monday outlining the government’s intentions. | Brokenshire will make a statement to the House of Commons on Monday outlining the government’s intentions. |
| Northern Ireland | |
| Northern Irish politics | |
| Devolution | |
| Sinn Féin | |
| Democratic Unionist party (DUP) | |
| news | |
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