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May speaks of ‘frustration and regret’ over Northern Ireland political stalemate
The Prime Minister said interventions from Westminster were no substitute for the restoration of the power-sharing administration at Stormont.
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Theresa May visits Northern Ireland, July 2018 [Photos] Close
Prime Minister Theresa May during her speech at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. Photo credit: Charles McQuillan/PA Wire
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Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster listens as Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May delivers a keynote speech on Brexit at Waterfront Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on July 20, 2018. With a trip to Northern Ireland this week, May began a tour of Britain to convince voters to back her blueprint for close economic ties with the bloc after Brexit next March. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Charles McQuillanCHARLES MCQUILLAN/AFP/Getty Images
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Prime Minister Theresa May during her speech at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast where she urged the European Union to "evolve" its position on Brexit and not fall back on "unworkable" ideas. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday July 20, 2018. See PA story POLITICS Brexit. Photo credit should read: Charles McQuillan/PA Wire
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Prime Minister Theresa May during her speech at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast where she urged the European Union to "evolve" its position on Brexit and not fall back on "unworkable" ideas. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday July 20, 2018. See PA story POLITICS Brexit. Photo credit should read: Charles McQuillan/PA Wire
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BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 20: Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May (C) talks with people from the Belfast Youth Forum during her visit to the Crescent Arts Centre on July 20, 2018 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. With a trip to Northern Ireland this week, May began a tour of Britain to convince voters to back her blueprint for close economic ties with the bloc after Brexit next March. (Photo by Paul Faith - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
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BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 20: Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May (C) talks with people from the Belfast Youth Forum during her visit to the Crescent Arts Centre on July 20, 2018 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. With a trip to Northern Ireland this week, May began a tour of Britain to convince voters to back her blueprint for close economic ties with the bloc after Brexit next March. (Photo by Paul Faith - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
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BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 20: Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May (3L) talks with people from the Belfast Youth Forum during her visit to the Crescent Arts Centre on July 20, 2018 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. With a trip to Northern Ireland this week, May began a tour of Britain to convince voters to back her blueprint for close economic ties with the bloc after Brexit next March. (Photo by Paul Faith - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
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Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast. Credit: PA.
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Protestors call for the Irish language to be recognised outside the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland, ahead of the arrival of Prime Minister Theresa May. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday July 20, 2018. See PA story POLITICS Brexit. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
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Protesters voice their concerns about gay marriage and the Irish border outside the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
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Mrs May speaks to workers at the factory
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Mrs May speaks to workers at the factory
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Prime Minister Theresa May (left) and Arlene Foster, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Pic: Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA Wire
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Prime Minister Theresa May and DUP leader Arlene Foster visit Belleek Pottery in Co Fermanagh yesterday
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Mrs May is greeted by Mrs Foster after her arrival
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Prime Minister Theresa May arrives for a visit to the Belleek pottery factory
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A man holds a sign saying ‘customs stop’ written in both English and Irish as Theresa May leaves
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Theresa May said the people of Northern Ireland deserve the restoration of devolved government as she expressed frustration about the lack of progress.
The Prime Minister used a speech in Belfast to insist that the Government was doing all it could to restore a power-sharing administration at Stormont.
She said the “resumption of political dialogue” should happen as soon as possible.
I want to see the Assembly and the Executive back, taking decisions on behalf of all of the people of Northern Ireland ... They deserve no lessTheresa May
The Prime Minister said: “It is a matter of frustration and regret that, after enjoying the longest period of unbroken devolved government since the 1960s, Northern Ireland has now been without a fully functioning Executive for over 18 months.”
She added: “I want to see the Assembly and the Executive back, taking decisions on behalf of all of the people of Northern Ireland.
“They deserve no less.”
Prime Minister Theresa May gives a speech at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast (Charles McQuillan/PA)
PA Wire/PA Images
During her two-day visit to Northern Ireland, Mrs May held talks with her Westminster confidence and supply partners, the DUP, an SDLP delegation and representatives from Sinn Fein, the Ulster Unionists and the Alliance Party.
Mrs May said: “We continue to do all we can to see the re-establishment of devolution and all of the institutions of the Belfast Agreement.
“But an agreement cannot be imposed. That needs to come from within Northern Ireland.
“A first step has to be the resumption of political dialogue aimed at finding a solution and that should begin as soon as possible.”
She said that “interventions from Westminster are no substitute for decisions taken here”.
PA
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