Deadline for restoring North powersharing would be ‘deadly’, says Heaton-Harris

Northern Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has said setting a deadline for restoring powersharing at Stormont would be “deadly”.

He told the House of Commons on Wednesday that it was “pointless” to set timelines and the focus was on “getting the job done properly” to ensure the Executive could remain for a “very long time” when it returned.

There has been no functioning government in Stormont since last year when the DUP withdrew in protest over the post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland.

The Windsor Framework recently struck by the UK and EU sought to reduce red tape on goods entering Northern Ireland from Britain, but the DUP wants further assurances.

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Speaking in the House of Commons, Labour’s Kevin Brennan said: “Given the hugely advantageous position Northern Ireland now finds itself in, as outlined by the prime minister when the Windsor accord was being announced, isn’t it time that powersharing really was restored?

“And isn’t it time the secretary of state in fact considered a deadline for the restoration of powersharing?”

Mr Heaton-Harris replied: “The one thing I have learned in my role as secretary of state for Northern Ireland is that deadlines are deadly. It is pointless setting timelines on things.

“Getting the job done properly, so when the Executive comes back it can be there for a very long time, is the right thing to do. And that is what everyone is working towards.”

Labour’s shadow Northern secretary Peter Kyle later asked Mr Heaton-Harris to reveal what talks were taking place about restoration of powersharing.

Mr Heaton-Harris said there was an “ongoing pattern of formal talks with the parties”, but added: “I would also say to him, one thing I have learned from the negotiations to get the Windsor Framework over the line is that some of these things are best done on a confidential basis, because otherwise other people get to pull the threads of negotiations and the whole thing falls apart.”

A number of “game-changing” amendments are set to be tabled to a controversial British government Bill for dealing with the Troubles, Mr Heaton-Harris also told MPs.

‘Journey’

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill will have its final committee sitting in the House of Lords on Thursday.

Mr Heaton-Harris said the government had been “on a journey to improve the Bill dramatically”.

The Bill proposes immunity for people accused of crimes during the Troubles – as long as they co-operate with a new truth recovery body – and will stop future court processes.

It has been widely criticised by political parties, the Irish Government and victims’ groups.

During Northern Ireland questions, shadow Northern secretary Peter Kyle put to Mr Heaton-Harris that the Bill undermined the Belfast Agreement and pressed for a “total rethink on legacy”.

Mr Heaton-Harris responded by saying the Bill was something he hopes “to talk about a great deal in the coming weeks”.

“We have been on a journey to improve the legacy Bill dramatically,” he told MPs. - PA