Adams calls for new election if no deal in talks

The Sinn Fein president said another snap Assembly election was the only way to proceed if negotiations do not deliver agreement.

Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire has said he will either trigger an election or move to a return to Westminster decision-making if there is no deal by “early May”.

Last month, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he and Prime Minister Theresa May shared the position that direct rule was not an option.

But with Northern Ireland approaching seven weeks without a devolved government following March’s election, it appears that option is now very much on the table in Downing Street.

Current legislation dictates Mr Brokenshire should call another poll if negotiations to form an administration fail.

The government lost its power to suspend devolution and reintroduce direct rule in the 2006 St Andrews Agreement.

It would require emergency legislation in Westminster for Mr Brokenshire to regain that authority.

Addressing an Easter Rising commemoration in Co Tyrone, Mr Adams said: “Sinn Fein wants a deal.

“But if there is no deal then there has to be an election.

“The role and responsibility of the Irish government must be to assert that an election is the only legal course open to the British government, if the current talks fail to elect an Executive.”

Negotiations to save devolution remain log-jammed, with two deadlines to form a new ruling Executive falling by the wayside.

Sinn Fein demands for legislative protections for Irish speakers, an end to the Province’s ban on gay marriage and the implementation of a Northern Ireland-specific bill of rights are among the issues of dispute.

Talks will reconvene after Easter, working to the new early May deadline.

Sinn Fein has accused the DUP of preventing the formation of a “rights-based” government.

The DUP has claimed Sinn Fein is focused only on the demands of its own supporters, and is failing to appreciate that others want movement on other issues.

Ahead of the Easter weekend, DUP MP Gregory Campbell had urged Sinn Fein to rethink its approach to negotiation.

Mr Campbell told republicans they need to look beyond their own wish list.

“Sinn Fein’s closed-mind approach has led to Stormont being closed, it needs to change,” he said.

“The current impasse was created when Sinn Fein walked out of Stormont.

“Critical public services suffer whilst the deadlock is maintained through their refusal to re-establish the executive. The DUP is prepared to establish the Executive and work through the range of problems people from across Northern Ireland face.”

He added: “The Easter break offers them (Sinn Fein) the opportunity to refocus on issues which they have to get their collective heads around.”