'Devolution hangs in balance' Naomi Long

By Jordan Moates, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT at the ALLIANCE PARTY CONFERENCE

Naomi Long dismissed today any notion that a return to Direct Rule or another election would solve Northern Ireland’s political problems.

Addressing the Alliance Party Conference in East Belfast for the first time as party leader, she said the future of devolution was hanging in the balance.

She said the “clock is ticking down to Monday’s deadline”.

But she told delegates: “While others may secretly hanker for a period of direct rule or feel that another election may offer a chance of a better result for their party.

“We are clear that neither will solve the problems we face today.”

She said the collapse of the Assembly was disappointing but not surprising.

“We realised towards the end of the previous mandate that significant reform was required to make it fit for purpose and so when we entered the negotiations in May about the Justice Ministry we were clear about the failings of the previous mandate and we offered five clear steps that would make progress towards that reform,” the Alliance leader added.

“And we stand here today without an Assembly in place and the future of devolution uncertain in large part to another scandal that of the botched Renewable Heat Initiative and of the inability of the Executive to deal maturely, competently and transparently with the crisis that precipitated.”

Talks are continuing at Stormont Castle but there has been no sign at all of a breakthrough ahead of the deadline.

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