Irish prime minister tells Theresa May of 'concern' about Tory-DUP deal

Adjust Comment Print

Varadkar said that members of Northern Ireland's DUP, who May is looking to for support in government to achieve a working majority, and the Scottish wing of the Conservative party would favor free trade with Europe and a common travel area between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

But the party would find it very hard to join a coalition again after suffering severe damage from its deal with the Conservatives after the 2010 election, former leader Menzies Campbell had said earlier on Thursday.

"We are here to do business". We will talk to whoever is the largest party, it looks like the Conservatives.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams made clear there was "no danger whatsoever" of his party ditching its abstentionist policy, even if its seats become crucial in the final reckoning.

"When I meet with the Prime Minister in London tomorrow I will be mindful of our responsibility to help bring stability to the nation at this time of challenge". They're all the subject of previous agreements that all the party's signed up to.

With a Stormont talks deadline of June 29 to decide on devolution or direct rule for Northern Ireland, campaigners are calling for whichever government is in charge to deliver equal marriage legislation for Northern Ireland.

He said the current process - which involves the United Kingdom and Irish governments chairing elements of the negotiations and the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service moderating other discussions - is the "right approach".

However the DUP leader rejected that idea.

Qatar says backs Kuwait mediation efforts over rift with Arab states
The airline CEO said he did not expect Qatar to be treated in this way by a country "so dependent on its fight against terrorism". They have accused Doha of backing terrorist groups and close ties with Iran, something the minister denied categorically.

With Northern Ireland having been without a powersharing executive since March and without a first and deputy first minister since January, a new three-week process to salvage devolution is starting in Belfast on Monday.

However, a major question mark hangs over the talks as a result of developments at Westminster.

She said the Conservatives are "cobbling together" a Government and are putting party interest ahead of national interest and the Northern Ireland peace process.

The dispute has prompted renewed calls for a chairman from outside the United Kingdom and Ireland to be appointed.

James Brokenshire said the current process, which involves the United Kingdom and Irish governments chairing elements of the negotiations and the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service moderating other discussions, was the "right approach".

The 1998 peace accord, which provides the template for powersharing at Stormont, commits the United Kingdom and Irish governments to demonstrate "rigorous impartiality" when it comes to the differing political traditions in Northern Ireland.

The historic accord commits the UK Government to demonstrate "rigorous impartiality" when dealing with competing political views in the region.

The Secretary of State said the Government remained "four square" behind the Good Friday deal.

Comments