15/02/2018

Sinn Fein To Meet With Irish And UK Governments After Talks Fail

Sinn Fein is to meet with both the Irish and UK governments today, 15 February, after DUP leader Arlene Foster confirmed talks to restore power-sharing in NI had failed.

Northern Ireland has been without an Executive since January 2017.

Mr Foster said there was "no current prospect" of a deal.

She said the talks failed following disagreements about legislation for the Irish Language Act.

However, Sinn Fein's Northern leader Michelle O'Neill blamed the DUP for the collapse.

She said: "When this latest round of talks was announced in January, I said a short, sharp and focused negotiation was required to resolve the outstanding issues of rights and equality available everywhere else in the islands.

"Sinn Féin engaged, we worked in good faith, we stretched ourselves. 

"We had reached an accommodation with the leadership of the DUP. 

"The DUP failed to close the deal.

"They have now collapsed this process.

"These issues are not going away.

"Sinn Féin are now in contact with both governments and we will set out our considered position."

(CD)

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

07 February 2018
SDLP 'Frustrated' Over Talks Update
The SDLP has been left "frustrated" following the Secretary of State's update on talks to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland. Leader Colum Eastwood said the public have been left "none the wiser" and that Karen Bradley "gave cover to the secret talks of the DUP and Sinn Féin".
13 March 2017
Govt Called To Fund Compensation For Victims Of Historical Institutional Abuse
Sinn Féin is calling on the British Government to fund compensation payments to victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland. The party's leader, Michelle O'Neill, confirmed she recently discussed the issue with NI Secretary James Brokenshiire.
09 October 2001
Sinn Féin meet Blair for crisis talks
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness have held crisis talks at Downing Street with the UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
04 July 2019
SF Hit Out At Stalled Talks Process
A Sinn Fein MLA has hit out at the pace of political talks to restore devolved government, claiming they have entered a "go-slow" mode. Newry and Armagh MLA Conor Murphy was speaking as the 12 July celebrations, traditionally celebrated by unionists and loyalists, approach.
10 February 2005
SF members sanctioned robbery – IMC report
The International Monitoring Commission (IMC) has said the IRA was behind last December’s Northern Bank robbery and that senior members of Sinn Fein had sanctioned the raid. In it’s fourth report, specially published as a result of the £26.