Irish gov't reiterates opposition to direct rule in Northern Ireland

Source: Xinhua    2018-02-20 06:40:40

DUBLIN, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Irish government on Monday reiterated its opposition to direct rule in Northern Ireland (NI)following a recent collapse of talks between two major political parties in NI to revive the functions of its devolved government.

A statement released by the Irish Government Press Office said that Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar spoke with his British counterpart Theresa May by phone on Monday evening following a meeting to review the recent developments in Northern Ireland with the leaders of Sinn Fein, a political party which has presence both in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Taoiseach (prime minister in Irish language) emphasised the Irish government's full commitment to the Good Friday Agreement, and its determination to secure the effective operation of all its institutions, said the statement.

As co-guarantor to the agreement, the Irish government will continue to engage with the parties in Northern Ireland and the British government to support the urgent formation of a new Executive by the mandated political parties, it added.

The statement said that the Irish government's firm position is that the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent Agreements must be implemented in full, and in this context the Taoiseach reiterated that the Irish government does not want to see the introduction of direct rule in Northern Ireland.

Good Friday Agreement is a multilateral agreement signed among the British and Irish governments as well as political parties of Northern Ireland in Belfast, the regional capital city of Northern Ireland, on April 10, 1998. The agreement provides the basis for the present devolved system of government in Northern Ireland.

Fears of possible direct rule in Northern Ireland arise following a last week breakdown of talks between Sinn Fein and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP),another NI political party, over the restoration of the NI devolved government which has ceased functioning for over 13 months due to their disputes over a renewable energy scheme.

In the latest round of talks between the two parties in a bid to restore the power-sharing system in Northern Ireland, the two sides again failed to reach an agreement due to differences over a number of issues including the passage of an Irish language act insisted by Sinn Fein but refused by the DUP.

Editor: Mu Xuequan
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Irish gov't reiterates opposition to direct rule in Northern Ireland

Source: Xinhua 2018-02-20 06:40:40

DUBLIN, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Irish government on Monday reiterated its opposition to direct rule in Northern Ireland (NI)following a recent collapse of talks between two major political parties in NI to revive the functions of its devolved government.

A statement released by the Irish Government Press Office said that Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar spoke with his British counterpart Theresa May by phone on Monday evening following a meeting to review the recent developments in Northern Ireland with the leaders of Sinn Fein, a political party which has presence both in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Taoiseach (prime minister in Irish language) emphasised the Irish government's full commitment to the Good Friday Agreement, and its determination to secure the effective operation of all its institutions, said the statement.

As co-guarantor to the agreement, the Irish government will continue to engage with the parties in Northern Ireland and the British government to support the urgent formation of a new Executive by the mandated political parties, it added.

The statement said that the Irish government's firm position is that the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent Agreements must be implemented in full, and in this context the Taoiseach reiterated that the Irish government does not want to see the introduction of direct rule in Northern Ireland.

Good Friday Agreement is a multilateral agreement signed among the British and Irish governments as well as political parties of Northern Ireland in Belfast, the regional capital city of Northern Ireland, on April 10, 1998. The agreement provides the basis for the present devolved system of government in Northern Ireland.

Fears of possible direct rule in Northern Ireland arise following a last week breakdown of talks between Sinn Fein and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP),another NI political party, over the restoration of the NI devolved government which has ceased functioning for over 13 months due to their disputes over a renewable energy scheme.

In the latest round of talks between the two parties in a bid to restore the power-sharing system in Northern Ireland, the two sides again failed to reach an agreement due to differences over a number of issues including the passage of an Irish language act insisted by Sinn Fein but refused by the DUP.

[Editor: huaxia]
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