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Stormont talks hit their first stumbling block

Talks at Stormont to form a new power-sharing executive appear to have hit their first stumbling ...
Newstalk
Newstalk

20.17 7 Mar 2017


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Stormont talks hit their first...

Stormont talks hit their first stumbling block

Newstalk
Newstalk

20.17 7 Mar 2017


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Talks at Stormont to form a new power-sharing executive appear to have hit their first stumbling block.

A Sinn Féin meeting with the British Secretary of State James Brokenshire was cut short over funds for legacy inquests.

The parties have three weeks to form a government or risk a return to direct rule from Westminster.

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Officials from Dublin are expected to join the negotiations on Wednesday.

The party's leader in Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill says James Brokenshire did not take their calls on board.

She said: "All he did was waffle, waffle and more waffle in relation to how we're going to go forward and give families what they need - which is access to due process, as per the request from the Lord Chief Justice.

"So we've asked him to go away, reflect on that and come back with a positive outcome for those families that need access to the coroner's inquest report".

While Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams says Mr Brokenshire needs to get serious over dealing with the past.

"I have dealt with more British Secretaries of State than I can remember - they need to get serious.

"We've had one or two who did get serious and helped the process to go forward.

"I hope that James Brokenshire is one of those", he added.

The DUP and Sinn Féin also met again, while Arlene Foster met her DUP team for the first time since the election.

The party leader has faced calls to stand down but insists there is no 'revolt' within the party .

Sinn Féin has vowed not to re-enter devolved government with her as first minister.


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