UK and Ireland agree to do ‘everything possible’ to restore power sharing in Northern Ireland
Another Assembly election will be held in the region if power-sharing is not restored by 28 October, the UK’s Northern Ireland secretary has insisted.
Speaking at a press conference following a meeting of the British-Irish intergovernmental conference, Chris Heaton-Harris said:
I am under no illusions of the issues around it, but, yes, I will be calling an election on 28 October if an executive is not formed.
People want devolved institutions in Northern Ireland that can make decisions there, for families, for businesses there.
Of course, an election means that issues like that will become totem issue again.
The UK and Irish governments reaffirmed their commitment to doing everything possible to facilitate the reestablishment of the executive by 28 October and the full functioning of all of the political institutions established by the Belfast/Good Friday agreement including the North South Ministerial Council.
They agreed on the importance of respecting the agreement in totality.
The conference discussed the approach to the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past and the value of further engagement on this crucial issue, in particular the Irish government’s concerns with the UK government’s proposed legislation and how those concerns might be addressed.
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