BELFAST (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said during a visit to Belfast on Sunday that Northern Ireland faced a “bright future” with the restoration of devolved government after two years of deadlock.
Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill was appointed as first minister on Saturday, the first Irish nationalist to do so, a historic milestone for the British region.
Sunak’s government brokered a deal with the UK-leaning Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to allow for a return to power-sharing by easing trade tensions after Brexit.
“In recent days we have made great progress towards a brighter future for the people here,” Sunak told the broadcaster.
“Everyone has worked hard to make this moment a reality. Everyone has worked hard to make this moment a reality and to make a contribution for the people of Northern Ireland, who for too long have had no empowered government. “We are working hard to do so,” he said.
Power-sharing governments in the region were a key part of the 1998 peace agreement that ended decades of political and sectarian violence.
Sinn Féin is the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), campaigning on both sides of the Irish border for an end to British rule in Northern Ireland and the creation of a united Ireland.
Mr O’Neill told Sky News on Sunday that it was the “opportunity of the decade” for Northern Ireland.
“We can share power, stabilize it, work together every day in public services, and pursue equally legitimate aspirations at the same time,” she said.
But Mr Sunak said the focus should be on public services.
“While everyone is fully committed to the Good Friday Agreement in Belfast, we are all also convinced that now is the time to focus on tackling the day-to-day issues that matter to the people, families and businesses of Northern Ireland. I think they agree.”
His office said Mr Sunak was scheduled to meet with Mr O’Neill and DUP Deputy First Minister Emma Littlepengary on Monday.
Under the power-sharing agreement, the post of deputy minister has the same powers as the prime minister, but carries less symbolic weight than the prime minister.
(Written by Paul Sandle; Edited by Sharon Singleton)
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