'Don't lose sight of progress made', says SF

Sinn Féin today said people should not lose sight of the progress made following the recent round of negotiations in the Northern…

Sinn Féin today said people should not lose sight of the progress made following the recent round of negotiations in the Northern Ireland peace process.

Speaking during a two-hour special debate on Northern Ireland in the Dáil today, Sinn Féin's Mr Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin, said there was potential for further progress.

He blamed the DUP for the recent impasse in the negotiations saying the unionist party lacked the "courage and the political will to sign up for a deal".

However, he said the way forward should include "direct dialogue between the DUP and Sinn Féin and the DUP owes it to its own electorate to give leadership by entering that dialogue".

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Mr Ó Caoláin also said the IRA deserved credit for showing "leadership and bravery in its efforts to achieve justice and peace".

"Those who have been loudest on the issue of silent IRA arms have had little or nothing to say about loyalist weapons and British army weapons that are still in daily use on the streets of the six counties.

"I want to pay tribute to all those who played a positive role in negotiations. They have not failed and their work is not over," Mr Ó Caoláin added.