TALKS aimed at establishing a new Executive in the North of ireland have made no progress so far, Sinn Fein has said.
“We have seen no progress to date,” said the party’s northern leader Michelle O’Neill.
Speaking in Stormont’s great Hall on Wednesday, Mrs O’Neill said dealing with the legacy of the Troubles remained a major stumbling block for Sinn Féin.
“The key issue in relation to the British Government is the issue of legacy,” she told reporters.
“Our position is very clear, we will not return to the status quo.
“Family’s shouldn’t have to come up to the steps of Stormont to campaign for access to inquests 47 years after, for example the Ballymurphy (killings),” she said.
Asked if the talks process was “going nowhere” Mrs O’Neill said: “We need to get back to the institutions but let’s only do it on the basis of equality respect and integrity.”
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin Foyle MLA Elisha McCallion said the British government and the DUP must make it clear that they will commit to honour previous agreements.
Speaking today Elisha McCallion said: “Sinn Féin has continued to engage with the other parties and the two governments to re-establish the Executive on the basis of equality, respect and integrity.
“This could have been done last week, and a new Executive up and working today. However, the continued refusal of the British Government and the DUP to honour previous agreements made that impossible.
“Sinn Féin remain talking to the parties and the governments, but we cannot have an endless round of talks to reach an new agreement, while other agreements are left to gather dust on the shelf. That is not credible. That is not what the public want.
“If these talks are to have any credibility, with the hope of reaching a deal, the British government and the DUP must make it clear that they will honour the agreements and the talks will move onto a programme of implementation.
“This can be achieved speedily.
“If previous agreements are implemented we can address the issues which are not part of existing agreements and reestablish the Executive.”
