Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and British Prime Minister Theresa May at Stormont talks yesterday afternoon but left “embarrassed” after no deal was struck between Sinn Fein and the DUP
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has said the UK and Irish governments have been “left embarrassed” after leaving Belfast without a deal to restore devolution.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and British Prime Minister Theresa May and Leo Varadkar attended the talks at Stormont House on Monday with the five main political parties.
Their attendance raised hopes of a deal between the DUP and Sinn Fein and ending their 13-month stalemate.
But no deal was struck and Varadkar and May left without a deal.
They held separate press conferences, pointing up continued friction between the two governments over Brexit and the border.
But SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said Mrs May and Mr Varadkar were left “embarrassed” because they travelled to Belfast to sign off on a deal that never happened.
The North of Ireland has been without a government since January 2017.
Martin McGuinness resigned as deputy first minister after a number of bust ups claiming there would be “no return to the status quo”.
The most serious row was the ‘cash-for-ash’ green energy scheme scandal.
The two government say they are hopeful that a deal can be achieved.
DUP leader Arlene Foster said any agreement had to be supported by everybody and sustainable.
Sinn Féin’s new President, Mary Lou McDonald, said her party is close to a deal that can be put to their grassroots.
