Macdonald says United Ireland is in “touching distance” after DUP vote – Irish Times

A united Ireland is “within reach” as the nationalist Stormont First Minister prepares to take office for the first time, according to Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald.

Mr Macdonald said it was important to promote deputy leader Michelle O’Neill to head North Korea’s devolved government after the DUP backed a deal with the UK government ending a two-year boycott of the power-sharing administration. He said that this is true. A moment that “means a lot.”

A recall to parliament to elect the speaker could take place as early as Saturday, with DUP leader Geoffrey Donaldson saying on Tuesday that there were enough concessions to show “the opposition are wrong”. He expressed an optimistic attitude.

The agreement is expected to be made public on Wednesday, and O’Neill said the coming days are critical to getting the power sharing agency up and running.

Addressing the media at Stormont, Mr McDonald insisted his party was “all about a different Ireland and a new Ireland for everyone”.

“Additionally, I think the turn of events, the historical turning point, and the electoral arena that we’re in means that what we’re talking about now is possible.”

Regarding the possibility of a united Ireland, she said: “Historically speaking, it is within reach.” And I think that’s very exciting. ”

The DUP collapsed at Stormont in February 2022 when former prime minister Paul Givean resigned from the executive in protest of a post-Brexit trade deal.

Mr Donaldson admitted on Tuesday that he had not secured “everything” he wanted from London regarding changes to the Windsor Framework Agreement signed last year between the UK and the EU.

But he said he had achieved a “good result for Northern Ireland” and promised “zero” checks on goods and paperwork heading north from the UK through the “green lane” element of the Windsor framework.

“Checks and goods are not subject to physical searches or background checks when traveling between the UK and Northern Ireland, or while in the UK, unless there is suspicion of smuggling, as is normal in any part of the UK. It’s going to go away. It’s going to be criminal. It’s going to be the same everywhere in the UK,” he told reporters outside Stormont.

Asked when Stormont would return, he said it would be contingent on the British government being “on our side”, but he hoped it would happen soon.

DUP party discipline was suspended on Tuesday after details of Mr Donaldson’s briefing to 130 party members at a DUP executive meeting on Monday night were leaked by supporter blogger Jamie Bryson, sparking an internal party investigation. remained difficult. Bryson live-tweeted details of what he claimed was a “point-by-point” account of the five-hour meeting.

Despite Mr Donaldson’s insistence on Tuesday that there would be legal changes to the post-Brexit deal, Northern Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris downplayed the possibility of new negotiations with the EU “All conditions have been met,” he said. Executive.

Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie has vowed that the Windsor Framework Agreement will not be changed “not one word” and that the so-called Irish Sea border “still exists”.

Mr Beattie expressed concern that the situation could “unravel” within days if parliament is not reconvened by Monday.

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long told reporters it was a “bittersweet” day as there was nothing in the DUP deal with Britain that “couldn’t have been delivered in 2018 under Theresa May”. Ta.

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