Politicians 'optimistic' ahead of talks
Main parties react to announcement of fresh power-sharing discussions
Last updated 27th Apr 2019
Political leaders here say they're 'hopeful' devolved government can be restored after a new round of fresh talks were announced.
The process will begin on May, 7 after the local elections.
Discussions will be facilitated by the British and Irish governments, and will include all of the main parties, in a bid to end the 830-day Stormont impasse.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald says she is optimistic:
"I welcome the announcement of the talks and also that the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference will meet,'' she said.
"This is now our opportunity to resolve the equality issues, the outstanding issues, and to establish good sustainable power-sharing government in the north.
"We're all very familiar with the rights issues which caused lack of confidence in power-sharing and those issues that have kept the institutions down, I hope everyone avails of this opportunity to finally resolve those issues.''
Speaking in Dublin, Ms McDonald added she believes both the British and Irish governments should step in if agreement cannot be reached between the two major Stormont parties.
"If it's not possible to deal with these issues through the talks, well then they will have to be resolved by the two governments through the intergovernmental conference,'' she said.
"Either way, let's embrace this opportunity now to get things right, to advance the Good Friday Agreement as our bottom line, as our common bottom line.
"On Monday, I will meet with our negotiating team, and we're good to go, we're ready, we want this to work.
"We want outstanding issues to be resolved, we want people in the north irrespective of their colour, class, creed or their view of the constitutional question, we want every single person to enjoy equality and vindication of their rights, and this, for us, is the big opportunity now to make that happen.''
DUP leader Arlene Foster, said her party is ready to restore Stormont 'without pre-conditions.'
"The DUP will not be found wanting in any talks process but our preference would be for the Assembly to be restored and have the talks process in parallel,'' she said.
"There is incredible frustration in Northern Ireland at the lack of an Assembly. Key reforms for our hospitals and schools are gathering dust on the shelves.
"My message on the doorsteps has been that we stand ready to form the assembly and executive immediately.
"Whilst we have delivered additional money for Northern Ireland through our relationship with the Government in London, we could do so much more with a functioning assembly.
"Talks should respect the three stranded approach and be focused on delivering a fair and balanced deal that both unionists and nationalists can support.
"Anyone who thinks agreement can be reached through a one-sided wish-list being implemented is not routed in reality.''
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said that a new talks initiative must result in a return to powersharing.
"The SDLP have already written to both governments and all party leaders outlining the urgent need to get back to government to deal with the outstanding issues but to address the emerging crises in our health service, our schools and our communities,'' he said.
"We have concerns, however, that this process with no fixed deadline will simply sink back to the retrenchment of previous talks.
"We have already seen the DUP and Sinn Fein slip back into comfortable red lines that look great on placards but deliver nothing for people desperately in need.
"Both of those parties need to think again about their approach that's more about seeking a pound of flesh than reaching agreement.''
Ulster Unionist Party leader Robin Swann said any talks must be meaningful.
"The Ulster Unionist Party is ready and willing to talk,'' he said.
"There may be an opportunity for progress, but that will only happen if there is genuine engagement from the two largest parties.
"The UK Government cannot continue to appease the politics of intransigence. They cannot continue to allow Sinn Fein to set the terms for talks.''
On Wednesday, the priest at the funeral of murdered journalist Lyra McKee made headlines after challenging political leaders.
It sparked mounting pressure on leaders to get back to work.
Father Martin Magill asked why, two years after power-sharing broke down in the Northern Ireland Assembly, it had taken the murder of a young woman to unite them.
He received a standing ovation from the congregation.
Sinn Fein's Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill said it was a turning point:
"It was also a challenge very firmly to the two governments to do something.
"So I welcome the fact that we now have a process. We will come at it with good heart, with an attempt to try and find resolution but what we need is not talks for talks' sake, what we need is for it not to be a talking shop.
"It needs to become a process that is actually about delivery, it needs to be a process that's about resolution and that then will give hope to all those people that want to see politics work here."