DUP rules out return to Stormont before Christmas

It’s understood The DUP has ruled out any prospect of a deal to revive power-sharing in Northern Ireland before Christmas.

A source said the process of negotiations to restore the institutions at Stormont is not yet complete.

Representatives from the Northern Ireland political parties are due to reconvene at Hillsborough Castle on Monday afternoon for further talks with the Government on a financial package for the region.

However, the DUP is involved in separate negotiations over its concerns about post-Brexit trading arrangements.

A party spokesman said. "The DUP is condition-led, not calendar-led."

The Government has offered a lump sum to settle outstanding public sector pay demands and a new fiscal floor for Northern Ireland, but it is dependent on a restored powersharing administration in Belfast.

Party leaders in Northern Ireland have agreed that the current financial offer from the UK Government is not enough.

Northern Ireland's institutions require the largest unionist and nationalist parties to share power, but the Stormont Assembly and Executive have been effectively collapsed for almost two years amid DUP protest action over unionist concerns following the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The Northern Ireland Office said the discussions resuming on Monday will build on last week's engagements on public finances and ensuring that the Executive is able to "return on a stable footing".

Officials from the Government and Northern Ireland Civil Service will also support further technical discussions on these issues.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said, "I welcome the constructive discussions we had with the parties over the last week.”

"The parties have had time to consider the generous package offered by the Government to support Northern Ireland's public services in the event that the Executive is restored.”

"I look forward to discussing final details with the parties over the coming days."