SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MLA told the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland that the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference must be re-convened.Following a meeting with Karen Bradley, the Foyle MLA said:
“I am deeply frustrated and disappointed following the meeting with the British Secretary of State Karen Bradley today.
“The meeting wasn’t only months too late, I am fearful that it was only designed as a box ticking exercise.
“We should be constantly mindful of the wider context. Ahead of June’s European Council meeting, the future of the Irish border, the future of the economic and political relationships across these islands and into the European continent are at stake in the next number of weeks.
“In that context it is narrow and pathetic that our politics remains consumed by an internal blame game rather than being focused on that bigger and defining political picture.
“The Secretary of State offered no direction in terms of moving the Stormont impasse forward.
“Instead there was a rehearsal of a list of ‘options’ which various parties had put to the British Government over the past 15 months.
“The SDLP’s analysis is very clear, as things stand we believe there is only one option and only one solution.
The DUP and Sinn Féin are incapable of making this deal. Therefore, the British and Irish Governments should re-convene the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference in order that a package of legislation can be jointly agreed. This would finally clear the decks of disagreement, end the deadlock and get us back to work.
“This would allow the Assembly to return the very next day.
“My message to the Secretary of State was clear, this needs to happen immediately. The SDLP won’t window dress another pretend talks process simply to justify MLA’s salaries.
“The time has long past for dragging their heels, the British and Irish governmnets must now face up to their responsibilities and act to represent the interests of all peoples here.”
