Irish foreign minister '˜should have no role' in talks to save Stormont: Allister

As the crisis talks continue in the wake of last week’s election, Mr Flanagan on Wednesday held a meeting with Secretary of State James Brokenshire and also talked to some of the parties.

But TUV leader Jim Allister hit out at Mr Flanagan’s involvement, stating that issues relating to the internal affairs of Northern Ireland “should include no role for the government of the Republic of Ireland”.

The North Antrim MLA added: “David Trimble refused to engage with the Irish government when strand one issues were discussed during the Belfast Agreement and in October 2014 Peter Weir rightly said that ‘no self-respecting unionist will be present in any meeting to discuss internal Northern Ireland business where a seat at the table is given to the Irish representatives’.

“So what is the justification for Charlie Flanagan’s involvement?”

The News Letter asked Dublin’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for a response to Mr Allister’s remarks, but we received no reply at the time of going to press.

Meanwhile, a DUP spokesperson said the party is engaged in the talks process on the basis of the three-stranded framework.

“This has been our approach throughout all talks processes,” the DUP spokesperson added.

“Consequently we talk to our own UK government on internal Northern Ireland and wider UK matters (strand one) and we engage with the Irish government on strand two and three issues where there are issues between Northern Ireland and the Republic.”

Ulster Unionist MP Tom Elliott said his party “would not tolerate a situation where the three-stranded approach is not respected”.

He added: “The Ulster Unionist Party delegation made it clear to the secretary of state at the outset of the latest round of talks that the Irish government has no business in strand one issues.

“However the Irish government does have questions to answer on legacy issues, particularly on events such as Kingsmills and it is important that they are held to account in this area.”

An Alliance spokesman said: “Under the Good Friday Agreement, the Irish government has obligations which they are legally bound to. Taking part in these talks is part of that obligation. Anyone with a positive contribution to make regarding the future of devolution should be welcome.”