Executives hold internal ‘deal or no deal’ meeting on FridayahDUP says ‘no decision’ todayTUV leaders describe this as a “defining moment for trade unionism”NI chief takes ‘pragmatic’ approach once Stormont latest deadline passes
DUP bosses held talks about the possibility of ending the Stormont boycott after senior officials said it was time to make a decision.
But the party is downplaying the possibility of a final decision on Friday.
A DUP spokesperson said: “I understand that there is a great deal of interest in today’s meeting.
“We do not intend to comment on our position, but suffice it to say that we will continue to engage with the government.”
EU diplomats have dismissed suggestions that negotiations are underway between the UK and the European Commission to change the Windsor Framework to facilitate the DUP’s return to Stormont, the report said.
Political insiders said Sir Geoffrey Donaldson would try to win support from party officials at Friday’s meeting.
If successful, a draft agreement could be sent to party leaders for approval over the weekend.
Downing Street expressed hope that the Stormont impasse would be resolved soon, and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar described the talks as a “positive sign”.
According to a report, the DUP has been offered what it says is a patriotic rebranding of the Irish Sea border in a bid to get the party back on track.
The Daily Telegraph reports that Chancellor Rishi Sunak and government negotiators may rename the Green Lanes, which control the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as the ‘Internal Market’. They also discussed drafting more favorable language for the Windsor Framework. lane’.
But RTE reported that EU diplomats had rejected proposals for new negotiations between the UK and the European Commission over the Windsor Framework.
The DUP left the executive branch in early 2022, citing concerns about post-Brexit trade deals.
In the absence of a minister, senior civil servants are running the Stormont department with limited powers.
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said before Christmas that negotiations with the DUP over the Windsor Framework had concluded.
“Whether a decision is taken today or next week, it’s clear the time has come for a decision. The negotiations are over,” a senior DUP official said on Friday, amid rumors of a party executive meeting. he said.
Earlier, a senior party official told the BBC’s Nolan Show that it had been a “deal or no deal” internal meeting with the party leadership pushing for a restoration of parliament.
However, the DUP later told Cool FM that no decision would be taken by the party today regarding a return to Stormont.
The source said on Nolan’s show that the number of people who want to return to Congress and the number of people who oppose it are “very close” so the vote on reinstatement could be narrowed to one or two people. Ta.
“We want everything up and running and moving away from the Windsor framework by next week,” a show source reportedly said.
The DUP has been approached for comment.
Doug Beatty, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, said on The Nolan Show:
“I think we’ve come to a decision point. We don’t really know which way it’s going to go. I hope the party can support Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and get him back into government.”
“We have to see what the outcome is. The reality for all of us is that the decisions we take will have an impact across Northern Ireland.”
Alliance Party MP Stephen Farry added:Negotiations over the Windsor Framework are over and now is decision time for the DUP.
“I’m being cautious because we’ve been down this road so many times before and experienced false dawns. I wonder if anything will emerge in the next hours and days. Let’s take a look.”
TUV leader Jim Allister described this as a “defining moment for trade unionism”.
“My guess is that if not a single word of protocol had changed and Sir Geoffrey had pushed the party back to Stormont, fake goods bills would have been sold to the unionists,” he said.
“If this protocol is accepted by the DUP, they have accepted that Northern Ireland will never again become a full part of the United Kingdom.”
People for Profit Over Profit MLA Gerry Carroll added: “Whether or not the DUP supports this deal, the Secretary of State must give public sector workers a pay rise. If they refuse, further strike action will be required.”
It comes as the latest deadline for Stormont’s recovery passes, with the Northern Ireland Secretary introducing new legislation to take a “pragmatic, appropriate and limited approach” to dealing with the political impasse. This is in response to what I said.
Chris Heaton-Harris also said his bill would “help Northern Ireland departments address the immediate and clear challenges they face in stabilizing public services and public finances”.
The DUP maintained its boycott despite an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to convene parliament following a motion by Sinn Féin MPs on Wednesday.
File photo of DUP leader Sir Geoffrey Donaldson (Liam McBurney/PA)
Mr Heaton-Harris was obliged to call a new election if the system was not restored by January 18th.
Minutes after midnight, he issued a statement suggesting he intended to introduce new legislation.
He said he was disappointed that Congress and the executive branch were not restored.
On Thursday, more than 150,000 public sector workers took part in the largest strike in recent history to demand better pay for their colleagues in other parts of the UK.
Public sector workers take part in a rally at Belfast City Hall during Thursday’s mass strike (Liam McBurney/PA)
In December, the government proposed a financial package worth more than £3bn, including funds to pay outstanding wages, but it will not be made available until Stormont returns.
Mr Heaton-Harris faced pressure to intervene in the release of the fund in the absence of Stormont ministers, but insisted public sector pay was a devolved matter.
Early on Friday, Mr Heaton-Harris said events in Northern Ireland this week “demonstrate the urgent action needed to address the full range of challenges facing Northern Ireland”.
He added: “I continue to believe that the current Executive for Northern Ireland is best placed to act quickly and effectively to resolve these issues.
“In the absence of the current Northern Ireland Executive, I will update Parliament on the next steps.
“I am committed to introducing new legislation that takes a pragmatic, appropriate and limited approach to addressing the government formation period and ensuring that Northern Ireland is able to address the immediate and clear challenges it faces in stabilizing public services and public finances. We intend to support these ministries.”
Meanwhile, Michael Gove, secretary of state for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities, defended the decision to link his fiscal policy announcement with reforms to Stormont’s executive and parliament.
He also urged the DUP to return to the executive despite concerns about the Windsor Framework.
“Like everyone, I want to see responsible devolved government restored,” he told BBC NI’s Good Morning Ulster programme.
“We understand that the parties have a variety of concerns. Ultimately, the only way to resolve these issues is for us to get our institutions back up and running.
“What we’ve done is told all parties that once the agency is up and running, we can give them a generous settlement. The onus is on all parties to reconstitute the executive branch.
“I think the Secretary of State for NI is right, we particularly want to see development and investment in the health service in Northern Ireland…but that needs to be done in partnership with politicians in Northern Ireland. “There is a responsibility for that.” “They have a responsibility for them. We have to meet the recovered executives.”