13/09/2017

PM Urges DUP And Sinn Fein To Restore Power-Sharing In NI

The Prime Minister has spoken to the leaders of the DUP and Sinn Fein urging them to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland.

Theresa May held separate phone conversations with Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill urging them to restore an Executive "as soon as possible".

A spokesperson from Downing Street said: "They discussed key outstanding issues that remain for both parties and the Prime Minister encouraged both leaders to come to an agreement soon in the interests of everyone in Northern Ireland.

"The Prime Minister assured them both that the Northern Ireland Secretary would continue to work closely with the parties towards a successful outcome."

Ms O'Neill said: "I made it clear to Theresa May that Sinn Féin is absolutely committed to seeing the institutions restored.

"But for any new Executive to be sustainable and credible, it must be restored on the basis of the Good Friday Agreement.

"That means addressing the outstanding issues of rights and respect such as language rights, marriage rights, the right to a coroner’s inquest and the implementation of previous agreements.

"As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, there is clearly a responsibility on the British Government to help ensure this happens."

(CD)




Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

22 November 2011
Hear! Hear! Poots Backs Deaf Kids
A cool £1m has been allocated to a programme that could help restore hearing to 23 children in Northern Ireland. Edwin Poots, the Stormont Health Minister has also announced that a 'scoping study' is to investigate the quality of audiology services overall.
08 June 2005
Queen’s to debate future of Human Rights Commissions
The future of Human Rights Commissions in the UK and Ireland will be examined at Queen's University Belfast this week. The Human Rights Centre at the Queen's School of Law, in co-operation with the Faculty of Law, University of Bristol, will hold a half-day conference in Belfast on Friday on the role of both Commissions.
24 January 2018
Fresh Round Of Talks To Restore Power-Sharing In NI Begin
A fresh round of talks to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland have begun. The Secretary of state will hold meetings with the five main parties. The Irish deputy prime minister will also be at Stormont. Northern Ireland has been without an Executive for over a year.
24 March 2009
Teen Denies Police Murder Charge
A teenager has appeared in court to deny murdering police officer Constable Stephen Carroll, 48, who was shot dead in Craigavon on Monday 9 March. He was in the dock at Lisburn Magistrates Court where the court was told he "made no reply to the charges", when they were put to him.
28 January 2005
Belfast to hold international Human Rights conference
A major conference, bringing together over 20 international human rights leaders from 12 countries, will take place in Belfast this weekend.