Chris Heaton-Harris said he would have decisions to make if the executive was not restored this week
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has said if a Stormont executive is not restored by Friday, he will have some decisions to make.
There has been no devolved government since February 2022.
On Monday, Mr Heaton-Harris held more talks with the parties.
He said he would set out his next steps “in due course”, which could involve laying out primary legislation at Westminster, but he did not give further details.
The institutions were collapsed by the Democratic Unionist Party in protest against post-Brexit trade arrangements for Northern Ireland.
Its leader, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, said “significant progress” had been made on this, however, he said there was more work needed on Stormont’s finances.
During pre-Christmas talks, the UK government offered a £3.3bn financial package if the institutions were restored, including provision for public sector pay rises.
After her talks at Hillsborough Castle on Monday, Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said she believed patience with Northern Ireland issues at Westminster had “all but expired”.
She said the 23-month-long crisis should end “for the sake of the people we represent” and accused the DUP of holding democracy “to ransom”.
‘Step up to the plate’
Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O’Neill said her party did not feel positive after its meeting.
“There wasn’t anything that gave us any chink of light, if you want to describe it as that,” Ms O’Neill said.
“That being said, we still think there is an opportunity for the DUP to step up to the plate.”
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson spoke to protesters before addressing the media
Mr Heaton-Harris said while talks on post-Brexit trade had effectively concluded, there was “some further progress last week”.
He said the financial offer for a restored Stormont was “very generous” but that public sector pay was devolved.
Michelle O’Neill said: “We told the secretary of state that he has put money on the table so to get on with it and pay the workers.”
Each time the DUP has blocked the election of a Speaker meaning no assembly business can take place.
Protesters outside venue
Members of all five Northern Ireland teaching unions staged a protest at the gates of the castle.
An autism support group also protested outside the talks venue, as ministers arrived.
They represented families affected by special schools closing this week during the strike, and chanted to the DUP: “You’re paid, pay them.”
The DUP delegation, made up of Sir Jeffrey, Gavin Robinson and Emma Little-Pengelly, arrived in Hillsborough to shouts from protesters.
“Fair pay for teachers,” some yelled and one protester shouted: “Shame, shame, shame.”
Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill says she does not feel positive after the meeting
Sir Jeffrey said the parties were “moving forward towards the moment when decisions can be made” and called for money to be released to fund pay matters.
“You don’t need to have a functioning Stormont in order for the secretary to use the temporary powers that he has given to himself for that purpose,” he said.
Members of teaching unions are protesting outside Hillsborough Castle
Why did Stormont collapse?
Northern Ireland’s devolved government collapsed in February 2022 after the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) withdrew in protest against post-Brexit trade checks between the region and Great Britain.
It believes the arrangements under the Northern Ireland Protocol diminish the region’s place within the UK internal market.
A new deal called the Windsor Framework was agreed in 2023 between the UK government and European Union aimed at addressing concerns.
But the DUP said this did not go far enough, and for months the party has been in talks with the government seeking further changes.
In December, Mr Heaton-Harris said those talks had “effectively concluded” and offered a £3.3bn financial package for Northern Ireland – dependent upon the Stormont institutions being restored.
Chris Heaton-Harris said he would have decisions to make if the executive was not restored this week
‘Twilight zone’
Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie said there had been “no movement whatsoever” to note from the latest meeting with the Northern Ireland secretary.
“Nothing has changed, so 2023 ended with no deal. 2024 has started with no deal.”
Social Democratic and Labour Party leader Colum Eastwood said Stormont politics was living in a “twilight zone”.
“We’ve heard that they’re close over and over again for the last two years.”
He added: “I think it’s just scandalous at this point.”
Is the NI secretary under pressure?
I had little to no expectations that anything would have…
Read More: Stormont crisis: Decisions to make if Stormont not restored – SoS