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Fresh talks to revive devolved government in Northern Ireland will start on December 16, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Julian Smith has said.<\/p>\nFresh talks to revive devolved government in Northern Ireland will start on December 16, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Julian Smith has said.<\/p>\n
Smith added that, unless agreement is reached by January 13, fresh Assembly elections will be triggered.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis one (deadline) is real, January 13 the law changes and an election has to be called in the absence of new legislation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach party had made a commitment to getting back into talks and I think that will happen whatever the situation the week after the election.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t let this run and run, we have got to get this sorted.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe number of issues is relatively small.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a deal ready to go, my colleague (Irish deputy premier) Simon Coveney has been meeting with Sinn Fein and others this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been continuing to meet with the parties in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s see what the election result is, but in all circumstances every party needs to get back into serious discussions that week before Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking at the Northern Ireland Conservatives\u2019 election manifesto launch at the Culloden Hotel in Co Down on Wednesday, Mr Smith acknowledged there are a number of issues to deal with.<\/p>\n
But he said he does not believe the outstanding issues, including a demand for an Irish language act and calls to reform the petition of concern, were \u201cinsurmountable\u201d.<\/p>\n
DUP leader Arlene Foster and Sinn F\u00e9in vice president Michelle O\u2019Neill indicated willingness over the weekend to resume negotiations after next month\u2019s UK General Election.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we are close to getting into position where we can get Stormont back up and running,\u201d Mr Smith said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese issues are important but what is really important are making sure that we deliver health services, that we deliver education and we deliver for people who are fed up of that institution not being up and running.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am confident with the best will, with a Christmas spirit, these parties can get this done.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that there is \u201cno appetite\u201d at Westminster for further legislation to extend the deadline to revive Stormont which has been collapsed for almost three years, since January 2017.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Prime Minister has been right behind these talks all along and will make a big push after this election,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken told Mr Smith in a meeting at Stormont House to \u201cact now\u201d over the region\u2019s \u201ccrisis-hit\u201d health system and appoint a direct rule health minister to be installed immediately.<\/p>\n
Mr Smyth ruled that out.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think taking powers back to London is the best way to proceed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n