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Mary-Lou McDonald has urged that a \u201creal negotiation starts\u201d as talks to agree the return of devolved government in Northern Ireland continue.<\/p>\nMary-Lou McDonald has urged that a \u201creal negotiation starts\u201d as talks to agree the return of devolved government in Northern Ireland continue.<\/p>\n
The Sinn F\u00e9in president called for a \u201cstep change\u201d in the pace of the talks at Stormont following weeks of discussions between the parties in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have had two weeks now of very constructive dialogue,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSinn F\u00e9in has engaged in this process fully and constructively and we believe that it has been helpful and now we need to move to a real negotiation.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow we need to move beyond discussion and we need to move to a process which will actually allow us to resolve the outstanding issues, that means that we need to see a step change in terms of the pace and momentum of the talks, it means we need to get beyond broad discussion and into the arena of negotiating and of agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have said from the beginning that we are here to get a deal, to do the business, we do believe that this is decision time, we believe that this process led by the two governments has raised expectations that the outstanding rights issues will be resolved, has raised expectations that sustainable power-sharing can be established and a system of government that serves the needs of every citizen.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have always said that is doable, that\u2019s our position and that\u2019s our belief but it does require leadership and it does require political will.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo next week needs to look very different from this week, there needs to be a radical step change and we are here to resolve the issues to ensure that people have sustainable power-sharing, that people have good government, government that makes room for every citizen, we\u2019re up for that and I think that next week the test will be for the two governments and the other parties as to whether they are up for that too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Power-sharing government at Stormont has been collapsed for more than two years following the break down in relations between Northern Ireland\u2019s leading parties the DUP and Sinn F\u00e9in.<\/p>\n
Those parties remain split over the place of the Irish language in society, abortion and the recognition of same-sex marriage.<\/p>\n
Numerous attempts to reach a resolution have ended without success.<\/p>\n