Sinn Féin rejects suspension of Stormont in Villiers meeting

A Sinn Féin MLA has said that the party told Northern Secretary Theresa Villiers that the British government should reject any suggestion of suspending the Northern Assembly and Executive following the latest political crisis.

Alex Maskey was part of the Sinn Féin delegation that met with Ms Villiers on Wednesday afternoon, the latest in a series of discussions she is holding with parties in the North.

Mr Maskey said: “We had a frank discussion with Theresa Villiers today about the challenges currently facing the Executive and the political process.

“At the meeting Martin McGuinness made it very clear to Theresa Villiers that Sinn Féin is totally opposed to any suggestion that the British government would suspend these institutions.

“We also reiterated our support for the peace and political processes.

“People want to see the parties working together to ensure the political institutions are delivering for everyone in the community.

“Unionists need to end their sham fight, which is all about narrow electoral rivalry.

“They should stand with us and other parties in tackling the real issues of Tory cuts and defending public services and the welfare state.”

The current political crisis was sparked by PSNI chief constable George Hamilton’s assessment that the IRA still exists and some of its members were implicated in the murder of Belfast republican Kevin McGuigan, albeit without the sanction of the IRA leadership.

Renewed commitment

Taoiseach Enda Kenny earlier said the Irish and British governments have renewed their commitment to protecting the power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland and ensuring the Stormont House Agreement is fully implemented.

In a statement, Mr Kenny said he had spoken to British prime minister David Cameron and the two leaders had renewed their commitment to work together.

The Taoiseach said the two leaders had reviewed the political crisis in Northern Ireland, including the recent murders, issues regarding trust and the political impasse around the implementation of the Stormont agreement.

On Tuesday, Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness called for “urgent” talks with the Taoiseach and the British prime minister over the crisis.

First Minister Peter Robinson met Mr Cameron in Downing Street on Tuesday after failing in an attempt to suspend Stormont to allow dedicated negotiations to take place.

Mr McGuinness also warned on Tuesday that if Stormont fell, “it would create a vacuum which would be exploited by violent elements on all sides”.

He again condemned last month’s killing of Mr McGuigan, saying it was carried out by “low-life criminals who are attempting to destroy this peace process and who are absolutely no friends of the Sinn Féin leadership”.

McGuigan arrest

On Wednesday a man was arrested in connection with the killing of Mr McGuigan. He is the twelfth person to be questioned in connection with the death.

Mr McGuinness also again rejected the PSNI chief constable’s assessment.

“I am working on the basis that the IRA have left the stage and present no problem whatsoever, that they are gone and gone forever, and have handed over responsibility for moving politics forward to the politicians here,” he said outside Stormont Castle.

Mr McGuinness said it was a time for political leadership. “We will contribute in whatever way we can to find a resolution of the present difficulties.”

Mr McGuinness was also critical of Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt's decision to withdraw his Minister Danny Kennedy from the Executive.