SINN Féin Foyle MLA Raymond McCartney said today the DUP and the British government need to focus on the creation of a new Executive and he said there will be no return to the status quo.He was speaking after comments by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that the Irish government would have ‘real and meaningful involvement’ in the north in the absence of political institutions.
Raymond McCartney said: “There will be no return to the status quo.
“Sinn Féin is determined to see the restoration of sustainable power-sharing institutions on the basis of equality, rights and respect.
“The majority of MLAs want to see marriage equality, language rights and legacy inquests delivered.
“What the political process requires is the British government and the DUP to focus on the creation of a new Executive and end the denial of rights and equality.
“Unionism’s faux outrage at the Taoiseach’s comments which are simply in line with the Good Friday Agreement is about deflecting attention from its denial of rights.
“Under the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement an intergovernmental conference involving the Irish and British governments should be called in the absence of political institutions.
“The onus remains on the two governments, but especially the British government, which has responsibility for equality in this jurisdiction; a responsibility for underpinning in law the rights of citizens in the north of Ireland which are enjoyed by citizens throughout these islands, to pave a pathway to restore the institutions.
“Sinn Féin will accept nothing less,” added the Foyle MLA.
