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The Northern Ireland Secretary has refused to answer whether plans for a December general election would jeopardize attempts to restore Stormont.<\/p>\nThe Northern Ireland Secretary has refused to answer whether plans for a December general election would jeopardize attempts to restore Stormont.<\/p>\n
Julian Smith said he would \u201cswerve\u201d the question when asked by Independent MP Lady Sylvia Hermon, adding some \u201cextremely important issues\u201d require \u201cimmediate attention\u201d in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
Conservative MP Simon Hoare, chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, also said an early general election \u201cis not helpful\u201d when dealing with the restoration of power-sharing.<\/p>\n
The exchanges came as Mr Smith provided an update to MPs, including on changes to the abortion law in Northern Ireland \u2013 which led to calls for him to issue clearer guidance for women.<\/p>\n
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Smith expressed disappointment at having to extend the period to enable an executive to form to January 13, 2020.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhilst the political parties continue to be unable to reach accommodation, public services in Northern Ireland continue to deteriorate, hospital waiting lists get longer and frustration continues to grow,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Smith noted he had held discussions with all five main political parties and contact would continue in the coming weeks, adding: \u201cThe issues that remain between the parties are few in number and they are soluble in substance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll take real commitment for the main parties to reach a compromise on those issues, but just this weekend both of the largest parties said that they want to make and restore the institutions as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
North Down MP Sylvia Hermon later asked: \u201cSince the Prime Minister seems absolutely hellbent on having an early general election, could the Secretary of State just take a few moments and explain how helpful or not an early general election would be to his efforts, his genuine efforts, to see the institutions of the general assembly and the executive functioning again in Northern Ireland?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Smith replied: \u201cI think it\u2019s best that I swerve that question, but I do think there are some extremely important issues in Northern Ireland that require immediate attention and I want to focus with colleagues on them over the coming days and weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Hoare added: \u201cBut in the heat and battle of a general election campaign, there is no scope for those discussions to continue, and dare I say it, it slightly prejudges what the outcome might be \u2013 were there to be a hung Parliament after that, or the Labour Party in office or whatever, then the whole thing changes again.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis early general election is not helpful, let us be frank. It is not helpful to the timely restoration of Stormont.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Smith replied: \u201cAll I can say is I will do whatever I can over the coming days and weeks to make sure we do get the executive up and running and we do focus on that as our priority.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 decriminalized abortion in Northern Ireland, with the change coming into effect last week.<\/p>\n
Labour\u2019s Stella Creasy (Walthamstow), who campaigned for the law change, said there was a need for Mr Smith to \u201cclarify\u201d the regulations \u2013 noting this included about how doctors in Northern Ireland can prescribe abortion pills to women who wish to use them.<\/p>\n
In response to Ms Creasy, Mr Smith said: \u201cShe is right to raise the issue of the fact we\u2019ve now moved into the shaping phase for the regulations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re launching the consultation \u2013 she\u2019s right, we were a few days later than we\u2019d hoped, but we will be producing that over the next few days.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are reflecting on the advice that we are getting from royal colleges and from many others, and I would appreciate the opportunity to talk through with her, once we\u2019ve launched that consultation, how we address the issues that she\u2019s raised on provision and ensuring there is access to services.\u201d<\/p>\n