UK government rejects Dublin calls for say on running Northern Ireland if Stormont talks break down
1 min read
UK ministers have batted away Irish claims that there can be ‘no British-only direct rule’ over Northern Ireland should talks over restarting power-sharing at Stormont break down.
Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney yesterday said it was the Dublin government’s position that they hold joint influence over the province with the UK should the Belfast-based assembly fail to be reinstated.
However a Government spokesperson responded that ministers would “never countenance” an arrangement that went against the conditions laid out in the Belfast Agreement.
They added that it was for Britain alone “to provide the certainty over delivery of public services and good governance in Northern Ireland, as part of the United Kingdom.
“This is consistent with our obligations under the Belfast agreement”.
While all parties favour a resolution at Stormont, a period of direct rule from Westminster is expected if an agreement cannot be reached.
Moves to reinstate devolved power to Northern Ireland have been ongoing since January, when the DUP-Sinn Féin led administration collapsed.
However while Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire visited Belfast in a attempt to rescue the arrangement earlier this week, bitter clashes between the parties suggest a resolution is unlikely to be found soon.
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