DUP negotiators can’t deliver – Sinn Fein

Posted by Jim on March 20, 2018

DUP negotiators can’t deliver – Sinn Fein

Sinn Fein has questioned the authority of the DUP negotiating team,
headed up by party leader Arlene Foster, after the last round of talks
to restore power-sharing in Belfast suddenly collapsed as a deal was
imminent.

Foster agreed a draft document to resurrect the Stormont Assembly last
month before pulling the plug in the face of an alleged ‘backlash’ by
party members angry at the prospect of legal recognition for the Irish
language. She subsequently denied any agreement was reached.

Asked about the prospects of renewed talks with his unionist opposites,
Sinn Fein negotiator Conor Murphy said: “We have to ascertain who we are
dealing with on the other side of the table.

“It’s a fundamental question in negotiations that are the people you are
talking to able to deliver a deal? And the answer to that at the end of
last negotiation was clearly no.

“So we need to ascertain all of those things. That could open up into a
period of nothing happening and I don’t think that’s good for any of
us.”

Mr Murphy made the comments as he lodged a submission with the Boundary
Commission to protest proposed changes to the electoral map in the north
of Ireland that overwhelmingly benefit the DUP. The party has openly
sought to exploit its alliance with the Tories in the British government
to force a gerrymander of the constituency boundaries. At least four
constituencies could be without any nationalist representation at
Westminster or Assembly level following the change of boundaries.

Mr Murphy also expressed scepticism over suggestions by the British
government for ‘alternate governance’ arrangements, such as giving
Assembly members some form of ‘shadow’ forum where they could discuss
issues without wielding power.

“The ideas being floated by the secretary of state don’t seem to provide
any momentum at all,” he said. “It’s very clear there is no agreed
approach between the two governments.”

He reiterated Sinn Fein’s call for the two governments to intervene and
jointly take action on disputes over the Irish language, equality issues
and the funding of legacy inquests.

“The British government remains wedded to the DUP’s blockade on rights,
language rights, marriage rights and the right to a coroner’s inquest
which are enjoyed by citizens every where else in these islands,” he
said. “There is an onus therefore on the two governments to deliver on
outstanding rights and agreements and ending discrimination.”

DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said that his party would support the idea
of a “shadow” assembly, but SDLP deputy leader Nichola Mallon also
rejected the proposal outright.

“Any suggestion that deviates from the Good Friday Agreement, an
internationally binding agreement and one endorsed by the majority of
people on this island, must be resisted,” she said. “All minds must be
focused on the restoration of devolution.”

Speaking in Washington DC, former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said he
believed that the return of power-sharing is the best option for the
North. Despite concerns that the DUP had little interest in reviving
Stormont, he insisted that Arlene Foster and other negotiators had
“acted in good faith.”

“Unfortunately their party did not follow their example,” he said.