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Boris Johnson is to hold talks with Northern Ireland\u2019s political leaders as he bids to inject fresh impetus to faltering efforts to restore power-sharing.<\/p>\nBoris Johnson is to hold talks with Northern Ireland\u2019s political leaders as he bids to inject fresh impetus to faltering efforts to restore power-sharing.<\/p>\n
The British prime minister will hold bilateral meetings with the five main parties at Stormont this morning.<\/p>\n
Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government for two-and-a-half years, with hamstrung civil servants running under pressure public services amid a reluctance by the Government to re-introduce direct rule.<\/p>\n
Stormont\u2019s two main parties \u2013 the DUP and Sinn F\u00e9in \u2013 remain at loggerheads over a series of long-standing disputes, with a series of talks initiatives aimed at securing a resolution having ended in failure.<\/p>\n
Mr Johnson\u2019s visit to Stormont comes amid deadlock in the latest talks process.<\/p>\n
Families of people killed by the security forces during the Troubles are planning to protest on the Stormont estate while the prime minister is holding his meetings.<\/p>\n
Ahead of the visit, Mr Johnson said the region had been without proper governance \u201cfor much, much too long\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said he would do everything in his power to help the parties reach agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people of Northern Ireland have now been without an executive and assembly for two years and six months \u2013 put simply this is much, much too long,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNorthern Ireland\u2019s citizens need and deserve the executive to get up and running again as soon as possible, so that locally accountable politicians can take decisions on the issues that really matter to local people.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m pleased to meet each of Northern Ireland\u2019s party leaders today to stress that I am going to do everything in my power to make the ongoing talks to restore devolution a success.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Johnson arrived in Northern Ireland on Tuesday evening when he dined with senior members of the DUP to discuss the renewal of his Government\u2019s confidence and supply deal with the unionist party at Westminster.<\/p>\n
DUP leader Arlene Foster, deputy leader Nigel Dodds and party whip Jeffrey Donaldson attended Tuesday\u2019s dinner with the British Prime Minister.<\/p>\n
The DUP\u2019s 10 MPs have propped up the minority Government since the 2017 general election \u2013 an arrangement that delivered a \u00a31bn boost in public spending in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
New Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith did not attend.<\/p>\n
It is understood his absence was designed to underline that the engagement was about the confidence and supply deal, not the powersharing dispute.<\/p>\n
The focus will shift to the Stormont logjam on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n
The last DUP\/Sinn F\u00e9in-led power-sharing coalition imploded in January 2017 when the late Martin McGuinness quit as Sinn F\u00e9in deputy first minister amid a row about a botched green energy scheme.<\/p>\n
The fallout over the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was soon overtaken by disputes over the Irish language, same-sex marriage and the toxic legacy of the Troubles.<\/p>\n
Mr Johnson\u2019s visit is his first to Northern Ireland as British Prime Minister.<\/p>\n
It comes following visits to Scotland, Wales and cities across England earlier this week.<\/p>\n
He previously announced that the Mid South West Growth Deal in Northern Ireland will receive a share of \u00a3300m new funding, to help boost business and enhance opportunities for people in the region.<\/p>\n