What will it take to break the stalemate in Stormont?

Political deadlock has left Northern
Ireland without a devolved administration for almost a year

One-Minute Read

The region has been without a devolved government since the
coalition executive collapsed in January, with the Democratic
Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein missing numerous deadlines to
resolve the crisis.

Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire extended the latest
deadline on Monday night, arguing that some progress had been made,
and is due to brief the government later today.

If the political deadlock continues, Westminster will be forced
to intervene and set a budget for Stormont’s public services, a
major step towards imposing direct rule.

However, Sinn Fein has warned that such a move would lead to an
immediate collapse of the talks.

“It has been a long year in Northern Ireland politics,” says the
BBC’s Iain McDowell. “In a strange sort of way, a lot
has changed while much has stayed the same.”

While some of the issues appear to have been resolved, “or at
least lessened in significance for either party, the split remains
as wide as ever on others,” he argues.

The main sticking point is Sinn Fein’s demand for legislation
granting official status to the Irish language. The DUP has made
some overtures, but has so far not done enough to satisfy Sinn
Fein.

But there have been “clear hints” that the DUP is prepared to
make a significant concession on this issue, Sam McBride writes for
i news. It appears the party is now “battling
over the timing, title and content of such legislation rather than
the principle that there will be such an act,” he says.

Other remaining issues include the DUP’s opposition to lifting
the region’s ban on same-sex marriage, as well as mechanisms to
deal with the legacy of the Troubles. 

If no deal is reached this week, Peter Hain, who served as
secretary of state for Northern Ireland under Tony Blair, has
suggested that Members of the Legislative Assembly have their
expenses withdrawn in a bid to break the deadlock.

Speaking to the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme yesterday,
Hain said such a move helped overcome a similar impasse during his
tenure.

“I think there should be consequences for the political class,
if they continue not to do their jobs,” the Labour peer said. “Time
has to be called on this whole soap opera at some point.”