THE SDLP says it has held a constructive meeting with Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney TD.Speaking after the meeting, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said: “It was agreed that all participants in the talks need to be constructive and creative in order to finally restore government in the North.
“It is deeply frustrating that the same constructive spirit continues to be absent from the parties with the mandates to actually do the deal.
“Rather than give into that frustration though, public pressure to form a working government must continue to gain momentum as people in need of vital public services continue to pay the price for political failure.
“As our health and education services continue to suffer and budget black holes continue to deepen, it is our job as politicians to get the deal done and begin to tackle those issues.
“Over the coming days, the SDLP will continue to hold talks with all the parties and the two governments.
“Minister Coveney’s briefing on the ongoing Brexit negotiations, following his meeting with Michel Barnier on Monday, once more brought into stark perspective the bigger political context at play.
“Whilst the DUP and Sinn Féin continue to hold the North in deadlock, the future shape of this island is being carved out in the Brexit negotiations.
“At the most critical period of these negotiations, when the future of the border and business on this island is being decided, we remain voiceless.
“Brexit is the defining challenge of this generation – failing to use our institutions to fight a hard Brexit in Ireland will be an historic abdication of political responsibility,” added the Foyle MLA.
