THE Irish and British governments are planning to start talks involving all major parties in the North of Ireland in a bid to restore power-sharing at Stormont, RTÉ News is reporting this evening.
The broadcaster’s Northern Editor Tommie Gorman says that Tánaiste Simon Coveney and Northern Secretary Karen Bradley are due to hold a joint press conference in Belfast tomorrow afternoon, Friday, April 26, when the announcement will be made.
It is understood there has been contact between the office of the Taoiseach and the office of British Prime Minister Theresa May.
Sources have told RTE that they hoped the talks will begin within a fortnight.
It is expected they will start after the local elections take place in the North next week, Thursday, May 2 but prior to the European Parliament elections.
The Executive collapsed in January 2017 when deputy first minister Martin McGuinness walked out over a row with the DUP, saying there would be “no going back to the status quo”.
