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Theresa May tells Northern Ireland's politicians to get back to work in Belfast address
'It has to come from within,' says PM
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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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Prime Minister Theresa May has told Northern Ireland's political parties to get back around the table and resume talks aimed at restoring power sharing at Stormont.
She made the comments during a wide-ranging speech at Belfast's Waterfront Hall on Friday.
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It was the last engagement on a two-day trip to Northern Ireland where the Prime Minister visited the Irish border in Co Fermanagh and met with political and business leaders.
Among those in the audience was DUP leader Arlene Foster and Nigel Dodds.
In her speech Mrs May bemoaned the lack of a power-sharing Executive and urged political parties to resume talks as soon as possible.
"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," the Prime Minister said.
"I want to see the Assembly and Executive back up and running, taking decisions on behalf of all the people of Northern Ireland. They deserve no less.
"We continue to do all we can to see the re-establishment of devolution and all the institutions of the Belfast Agreement."
The Prime Minister said that intervention from her Government would not be enough to restore the institutions and that any agreement "has to come from within".
"A first step has to be the resumption of political dialogue aimed at finding a solution, and that should begin as soon as possible," Mrs May said.
"Until then, the UK Government will of course fulfil our responsibility to ensure good governance and stability in Northern Ireland.
"But interventions from Westminster are no substitute for decisions taken here."
Belfast Telegraph
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