McGuinness describes Stormont crisis as ‘very grave situation’

The North’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has described the deepening political crisis at Stormont as “a very grave situation”.

The Sinn Féin politician said his conscience would not allow him to preside over an “austerity agenda” when he spoke to reporters ahead of a party ard comhairle met in Dublin.

Sinn Féin’s continued rejection of welfare cuts has increased speculation since the Conservative Party’s victory in the recent Westminster elections that the Northern Assembly could collapse.

“I am not prepared to preside over the austerity agenda that the British Government are afflicting on our Executive. My conscience would not allow me to do it,” Mr McGuinness said.

He said the British government would damage the Good Friday Agreement if it took back control of powers that are currently the responsibility of the Stormont Executive.

Mr McGuinness also said he would find unacceptable if it came to the point that “an unelected civil servant” was drawing up a budget for Northern Ireland.

The Northern Executive this week failed to agree a budget for the rest of this financial year, with the DUP, Ulster Unionists and Alliance blaming Sinn Féin for crisis.

The British and Irish governments, represented by Northern Secretary Theresa Villiers and Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan, plan to hold talks with the North's five main parties next week to explore if there is any way of resolving the logjam.

The North's First Minister Peter Robinson of the DUP is out of hospital, having had stents inserted following a suspected heart attack, and has confirmed he would accept Ms Villiers' invitation for talks at Stormont on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Mr McGuinness revealed he had visited Mr Robinson in the Royal Victoria Hospital “for some considerable time” recently.

“I think the fact that Peter’s now out, and today he went down to Royal County Down to the Irish Open, I think that’s a very clear indication that he’s on the mend and I’m very pleased about, so hopefully he will be there on Tuesday,” Mr McGuinness said.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said the British Government was "committed to the destruction of the welfare state and frontline services".

Mr Adams said he welcomed the upcoming talks but stressed they must be meaningful.

“We certainly want our Government here and the Taoiseach particularly to take a leadership position with the British prime minister.”

He said he had raised the situation with Taoiseach Enda Kenny on a number of occasions.