Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster has warned Sinn Fein to “get serious” about the terms of a deal to restore Stormont powersharing, accusing republicans of using rights issues as a cloak to break unionism.
Mrs Foster told her party conference in Belfast she was committed to resurrecting devolution, eleven months on from its collapse, but she insisted any agreement between the DUP and Sinn Fein had to be balanced.
The former Stormont first minister got a rousing reception from Union flag-waving party faithful at the DUP’s first conference since it became political kingmakers at Westminster.
She used her speech to restate her party’s determination to see powersharing restored, insisting the party blocking its return was Sinn Fein.
“It’s time Sinn Fein got serious,” she said. “This party will conclude a balanced deal but we will not be party to a one-sided arrangement that rewards intransigent behaviour.
“Northern Ireland needs a government and we cannot continue without ministers.
“Time is short and those in Sinn Fein blocking the restoration of local decision-making need to decide whether they want to do business with us or have direct rule ministers in place.
“I still believe that devolution is the best way to govern Northern Ireland but to do that in a way that delivers for all of our people we need serious partners in government.”
Significant issues still stand in the way of a deal between the DUP and Sinn Fein that would see them return as coalition partners in a devolved executive.
A return to Westminster direct rule looks a more likely prospect at present.
One of the key sticking points is a Sinn Fein demand for a stand-alone piece of legislation to protect Irish language speakers in the region.
The DUP will countenance such laws, but only as part of a wider Act that also protects British culture in Northern Ireland.
During the address, Mrs Foster reflected on a rollercoaster year for her and her party.
From facing down intense calls to quit amid a furore about a botched green energy scheme to standing on the steps of Downing Street with the fate of Theresa May’s minority government in her hands, 2017 will not be one Mrs Foster forgets in a hurry.
Despite the triumphant mood at the DUP conference, the event comes at a time of major challenges for the party at home and further afield.
The powersharing impasse, triggered in January over the botched green energy scheme, has left Northern Ireland without a voice in Brexit negotiations at a time when crucial decisions about the future of the Irish border are due to be made.
One of the loudest cheers of the speech came when Mrs Foster rejected any suggestion Northern Ireland’s place within the UK was now at risk.
“I am a unionist by conviction and unashamedly so,” she said. “I believe that the Union is the best basis upon which we can build a peaceful and prosperous society in Northern Ireland.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel