15/02/2018

Sinn Fein To Meet With Irish And UK Governments After Talks Fail

Sinn Fein is to meet with both the Irish and UK governments today, 15 February, after DUP leader Arlene Foster confirmed talks to restore power-sharing in NI had failed.

Northern Ireland has been without an Executive since January 2017.

Mr Foster said there was "no current prospect" of a deal.

She said the talks failed following disagreements about legislation for the Irish Language Act.

However, Sinn Fein's Northern leader Michelle O'Neill blamed the DUP for the collapse.

She said: "When this latest round of talks was announced in January, I said a short, sharp and focused negotiation was required to resolve the outstanding issues of rights and equality available everywhere else in the islands.

"Sinn Féin engaged, we worked in good faith, we stretched ourselves. 

"We had reached an accommodation with the leadership of the DUP. 

"The DUP failed to close the deal.

"They have now collapsed this process.

"These issues are not going away.

"Sinn Féin are now in contact with both governments and we will set out our considered position."

(CD)

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