Govt Considers Independent Facilitator To Break Stormont Deadlock

The UK Government is exploring the possibility of appointing an independent facilitator to break the ongoing political deadlock and restore Northern Ireland's devolved institutions.

NI Minister Lord Duncan of Springbank said Westminster is "actively considering" such a move to "bring about greater communication between the parties" in the province.

Faced with mounting pressure, he told peers during question time: "We hope that will lead to the breakthrough that we need."

Lord Duncan was responding to Labour's Lord Dubs, who warned there had been no progress in restoring government to the region over the last two years.

"If the Secretary of State can't bring the parties together, can he have an independent impartial person to chair such meetings between the parties," he asked.

Lord Duncan said the issue continues to be a top priority and NI Secretary Karen Bradley has encouraged parties to unite and achieve this aim.

Former Ulster Unionist leader Lord Empey said that despite repeated attempts, there was no ministerial process to kick-start talks, which has resulted in a political vacuum.

"That vacuum is being filled already, as we saw at the weekend, by the men of violence."

He also urged Mrs Bradley to "get her skates on" and start negotiations.

Lord Duncan responded: "I can assure you that she does indeed have her skates on but unfortunately not everyone else is wearing their skates and willing to dance to the same tune. That remains the challenge we face."

He added that good governance must be the first task of the Government, adding: "We will deliver that by whichever means is required in the time frame we have set out."

Labour's leader in the Lords Baroness Smith of Basildon said there was huge frustration in Northern Ireland that nothing had moved forward in two years, with no end in sight.

She said an independent arbitrator could offer a way forward, bring all the parties together and offer a "sense of momentum that something is really going to happen".

Lord Duncan said the Government did need to move forward on this matter and a facilitator was an aspect of the Government's consideration.

"We are now talking about a matter of weeks to try and achieve this," he said.

"We need to have everyone in that room."



(JG/CM)