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19/04/2018
Alliance MLA Calls On Secretary Of State To Initiate All-Party Talks
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has called upon Secretary of State Karen Bradley to begin all-party talks "as soon as possible".
Ms Armstong challenged Mrs Bradley to initiate talks as during the recent Good Friday Agreement anniversary, she had discussed how the UK Government was fully committed to the restoration of devolution at the earliest possible opportunity.
Ms Armstrong said: "If that is the case, why have we still yet to see the resumption of all-party talks or indeed even a date set for them?
"Alliance has been consistent in our views, which were contained in our recent document Next Steps Forward. They include reconstituting Assembly committees, reconvening the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, re-establishing the Policing Board and progressing legislation which was at an advanced stage before the collapse of power-sharing, all alongside a talks process.
"Bilateral meetings with other parties and the two Governments are all well and good but the Secretary of State needs to convene all-party talks as soon as possible, appoint an independent mediator and use the ideas contained in Next Steps Forward to get this process moved on and allow us to tackle the social, political and economic problems facing us."
(LM)
Ms Armstong challenged Mrs Bradley to initiate talks as during the recent Good Friday Agreement anniversary, she had discussed how the UK Government was fully committed to the restoration of devolution at the earliest possible opportunity.
Ms Armstrong said: "If that is the case, why have we still yet to see the resumption of all-party talks or indeed even a date set for them?
"Alliance has been consistent in our views, which were contained in our recent document Next Steps Forward. They include reconstituting Assembly committees, reconvening the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, re-establishing the Policing Board and progressing legislation which was at an advanced stage before the collapse of power-sharing, all alongside a talks process.
"Bilateral meetings with other parties and the two Governments are all well and good but the Secretary of State needs to convene all-party talks as soon as possible, appoint an independent mediator and use the ideas contained in Next Steps Forward to get this process moved on and allow us to tackle the social, political and economic problems facing us."
(LM)
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