UK faces government decision on deadlocked Northern Ireland

DUBLIN (AP) — The British government faces a deadline on whether to extend negotiations on Northern Ireland's political future or renew direct control from London. Britain's system of "direct rule" ran from 1972, the deadliest year of Northern Ireland's conflict, until the Good Friday peace accord of 1998 paved the way for the first of several Catholic-Protestant coalitions in Belfast.

Northern Ireland's latest unity government collapsed in January amid deepening disputes between the British Protestants of the Democratic Unionist Party and the Irish Catholics of Sinn Fein. Sinn Fein withdrew Sunday from talks aimed at reviving its partnership with the Democratic Unionists, saying no agreement was in prospect.

Britain's secretary of state, James Brokenshire, faces a legal deadline of 4 p.m. (1500 GMT; 11 a.m. EDT) Monday to announce what happens next.

A bad situation, which Sinn Fein is exploiting for its own ends.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/secretary-of-state-for-ni-statement

Press release

Secretary of State for NI statement

From:Northern Ireland Office and The Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP Part of:Northern Ireland political stability

First published:27 March 2017

In addition there was progress made around how Northern Ireland’s interests would be represented in our negotiations to leave the EU as Article 50 is triggered on Wednesday.

Yet it is also clear that there remain significant gaps between the parties, particularly over issues surrounding culture and identity.

Throughout this process the UK Government has been active in making positive proposals to try and bridge these gaps and help the parties to move things forward.

Despite these efforts, agreement at this stage has not proved possible.

This will have impacts.

We are rapidly approaching the point at which Northern Ireland will not have an agreed budget.

This is not sustainable and will have consequences for public services.

From Wednesday financial resources to allow Northern Ireland’s Departments to deliver key public services will fall under the control of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

This has the potential to get very ugly, and I have NO doubt that SF is doing it on purpose.

Not good at all.