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Sinn F\u00e9in president Mary Lou McDonald has urged the DUP to commit to \u201creal power-sharing\u201d with her party at Stormont.<\/p>\nSinn F\u00e9in president Mary Lou McDonald has urged the DUP to commit to \u201creal power-sharing\u201d with her party at Stormont.<\/p>\n
The republican leader claimed that a DUP \u201cfailure to accept rights and equality\u201d was a contributory factor in the \u201cpolitical storm\u201d that has hit unionism recently.<\/p>\n
After former first minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster was ousted by her party and replaced by Edwin Poots, Sinn F\u00e9in refused initially to re-nominate Michelle O\u2019Neill as deputy First Minister until it received assurances over protections for the Irish language.<\/p>\n
After Sinn F\u00e9in secured a commitment from the UK Government to progress the cultural legislation at Westminster, the DUP was then rocked by an internal revolt over Mr Poots\u2019s decision to proceed with nominating Paul Givan as the new first minister.<\/p>\n
After Mr Poots was forced to resign, the incoming DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson warned that it is \u201cnot realistic\u201d to expect stability in Northern Ireland under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol, part of the Brexit deal.<\/p>\n
In a keynote speech in the Balmoral Hotel in west Belfast, Ms McDonald said: \u201cThe outworking of Brexit and the decision of the DUP to support it, the inevitable disaster of the post-election pact with the English Tories and the loss of the unionist majority in Stormont have created a political landscape which many within the leadership of the DUP seem incapable of reconciling themselves to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald said she took \u201cno comfort\u201d from the internal difficulties the DUP has endured in the last week.<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cWe don\u2019t seek to humiliate or profit from the dysfunction within the DUP.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald said she had spoken with Mr Donaldson on Tuesday and would meet with him next week.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cThe question facing him is whether he is up for real partnership, real power-sharing, for political institutions that deliver? If the answer to those questions is yes then he will find a willing partner in the Sinn F\u00e9in team under (deputy First Minister) Michelle O\u2019Neill.<\/p>\n
\u201cA partner who wants to get on with the task of delivering better public services, tackling the hospital waiting lists, building decent homes and managing the economy out of Covid.<\/p>\n
\u201cA partner who will continue to give voice to those who have none, and who will work across party lines in both the Assembly and the Executive in achieving rights for women, Irish language speakers, newcomer communities and every section of the people who live here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald said the contents of the New Decade New Approach deal that restored devolution in 2020 were non-negotiable.<\/p>\n
\u201cIts implementation is not a point of negotiation. It is an obligation on us all,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe failure of the DUP to meet this basic political benchmark and to obstruct basic rights is not the basis upon which effective partnership government can be built.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald also claimed the DUP\u2019s approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol was out of step with the wider public, including many unionists.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe DUP will be making another political error if they seek to endanger the political stability of the institutions over the consequences of the outworking of their Brexit policy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Mrs McDonald added: \u201cTalk of abolishing the Irish protocol are not grounded in reality. Good faith engagement and use of the Joint Committee is the only mechanism to address challenges and difficulties.<\/p>\n
In the days ahead it is critical that political stability be restored. That is the minimum people expect<\/p>\n
Mary Lou McDonald
\nThe Sinn F\u00e9in president said it was critical that stability was restored to the power-sharing institutions in Belfast.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the days ahead it is critical that political stability be restored. That is the minimum people expect,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSinn F\u00e9in stands ready to renominate Michelle O\u2019Neill as deputy First Minister. We will play our part.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald reiterated her view that a referendum on Irish unity would come before the end of the decade.<\/p>\n
\u201cI firmly believe that within this decade the people will have the opportunity to freely choose new constitutional and political arrangements on this island, as underpinned by the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me be clear, there is no contradiction in working within a functioning power-sharing government while building for a new united shared Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n