British Secretary of State Karen Bradley and Tanaiste Simon Coveney announcing restarting of talks next week
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MLA has responded to the news that the talks process would resume next week by wecloming the announcement by the Irish and British Governments.
He added:
“I welcome the announcement that talks are being reconvened by the Irish and British Governments.
“Almost 3 weeks ago I made the call that the crisis in our health service must be the basis on which talks are reconvened – that remains as real today as it did then.
“After a year without a government, restoring our institutions must mean getting back to the job of government and taking responsibility for our economy and public services.
“I would not blame the public if they feel a sense of ‘déjà vu’ after today’s announcement. For a year now there has been a cycle of talks with a supposed deadline and every time they have ended in collapse. I fully understand and share the deep public cynicism on whether the DUP and Sinn Féin are truly up for the challenge of forming a government.
“That cynicism has been hard earned after a year of failure in Northern Ireland. The only consistency over the last 12 months has been political failure on the part of the DUP and Sinn Féin.
“That pattern of previous failure is why I have made it clear to both governments that these talks must be conducted completely differently – we cannot go on doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome.
“That means no party which holds a mandate from the people of the North can be expected to act as window dressing for private negotiations between the DUP and Sinn Féin.
“Unlike in the past, inclusive talks must mean inclusive talks.
“In the wake of today’s announcement, the SDLP has also taken the initiative to speak with the UUP and the Alliance party.
“All of us agree that the progress and compromises supposedly made between the DUP and Sinn Féin must be shared and the negotiations must proceed on that basis.
“If the gaps are as narrow as we have been told, we are prepared to put all our effort into reaching a solution. The window of opportunity is tight – so let’s get down to work and let’s get on with it.”
