'No more excuses' for Stomont deadlock, says SoS

The Northern Ireland Secretary has warned Stormont's rowing politicians there are no more excuses'' for failing to restore powersharing.

Julian Smith vowed to re-energise stalled talks to resurrect the devolved institutions, as he expressed frustration at the pace of recent negotiations.

On a visit to Belfast on Friday August 23rd, Mr Smith said public sector workers had for too long been forced to fill the vacuum left by a lack of leadership from the region's politicians since devolved institutions collapsed in January 2017, following a row over a botched Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.

He said: Getting Stormont up and running has to be the priority.There has been activity throughout August but it has not been at the pace that I want.

Political parties across the spectrum must now realise that civil servants, police, hospital workers, nurses, doctors, have for too long stepped in for a lack of political leadership and there are no more excuses - we just have to get this Assembly and Executive moving.

All of the civil servants and public sector workers I have met this week are really doing incredible work, when actually they should be getting much more support from Northern Ireland political leaders.''

It comes after Mr Smith met with survivors of historical abuse, an engagement with city councillors and shipyard workers about the closure-threatened Harland and Wolff yard, and a visit to a group focused on reducing criminal re-offending rates.

He noted that a range of policies affecting the region, such as reforms to laws on abortion and same-sex marriage, would be introduced at Westminster in October if devolution was not restored by then