Intensified engagement and dialogue between the DUP and Sinn Féin is the way out of the impasse that is threatening the Northern Executive and Assembly, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said at Hillsborough Castle tonight.
Mr Martin held talks with the Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward for over two hours against increasing concern that the DUP/Sinn Féin standoff over policing and justice could escalate into a political crisis that could collapse the powersharing institutions.
They met as Sinn Féin leaders consider how they will respond to the DUP’s refusal to meet Sinn Féin’s Christmas deadline for a move on policing and justice.
Mr Martin said the British and Irish governments would keep working with the parties to try to find a resolution of the political deadlock.
“It is our assessment that intensified engagement and dialogue can resolve the outstanding issues,” said Mr Martin. “There are a remaining number of obstacles to be overcome. It is our view that they can be overcome and dialogue is the key to overcoming them,” he added.
Mr Woodward said politicians such as First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness had resolved “some of the most intractable problems” facing Northern Ireland and he was “absolutely confident” they could overcome the current difficulties.
Mr Martin and Mr Woodward met as Sinn Féin leaders prepared for what could be a defining meeting of Sinn Féin’s ruling ardchomhairle scheduled for Saturday.
At that meeting Mr McGuinness is expected to issue proposals on how to react to the absence of movement on policing and justice although, pending the various political negotiations this week, it is understood the nature of those proposals are not yet tied down.
Mr McGuinness and other senior Sinn Féin figures warned several times through November and December of the “unsustainability” of the Executive and Assembly if there was no move before Christmas to begin the transfer of policing and justice powers.
The current political uncertainty is compounded by a concern in London and Dublin that personal matters affecting First Minister Peter Robinson and Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams could impinge on their ability to take proper political action.
There is also concern that there is no current contact of any meaningful nature between the First Minister and Deputy First Minister although Mr Woodward last night refused to accept there was such a breakdown in communication.
Mr Robinson took time out from normal politics over recent weeks after his wife Iris, an Assembly member and MP, decided to step down from politics citing physical ill-health and depression. He has also absented himself from general politics this week as he addresses issues around his wife’s indisposition. Mr Adams has been caught in the wave of publicity over allegations of sex abuse against his brother Liam.
Mr Martin said he wanted to acknowledge and praise Ms Robinson’s “bravery” in making a public statement about her depression while also stating that Mr Adams faced his own “difficult and complex situation”.
When asked should Mr McGuinness “create space” for Mr Robinson given the personal family issues facing him he replied that “our view is that whatever helps overcome the remaining hurdles is the pathway” to take.
Alliance Leader David Ford meanwhile, who is in line for the justice portfolio if and when justice powers are devolved, yesterday called for immediate and urgent political dialogue “to avert a crisis, as next week will be too late”.
“If there is not serious engagement between the parties this week I believe we will be in a full-blown crisis next week. This must not be allowed to happen,” he said.