A Co Armagh-born former senior official with the European Commission has accused the DUP of holding Northern Ireland’s future “to ransom”.
Geoff Martin from Bessbrook opened the European Commission’s first office in Belfast in the early 1980s, before becoming the commission’s head of the representation in the UK.
Writing in The Irish News, he said the DUP stands in isolation “throughout these islands and amongst all political parties”.
His remarks come as Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill used her new year message to warn the DUP it is decision time.
The first minister-designate accused Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s party of “rolling back” on a deal to revive devolution prior to Christmas.
Now retired and living in London, Mr Martin retains a keen interest in Northern Ireland politics and has questioned the DUP’s commitment to serve alongside a nationalist first minister.
He was also a policy adviser to the Commonwealth Secretariat for 13 years.
Writing in the The Irish News about the current political impasse, he argues that the DUP “stands in isolation throughout these islands and amongst all political parties”.
“Its demands are irreconcilable,” he says.
“It is holding to ransom, the future of Northern Ireland and is wearing very thin, any possibility of more concessions from Westminster and Whitehall.”
Born a Presbyterian, Mr Martin describes himself as “neither a unionist or republican” and says he counted John Hume and Ian Paisley as friends.
“An election was held nearly two years ago. Sinn Féin became the largest party but the DUP refused to serve under a Catholic first minister. One wonders why?” he asks.
“The British government says that the talks have ended though the terms of the deal remain on the table if the DUP enters the executive. Let’s see.”
Mr Martin suggests reform of the institutions, removing one party’s veto over the formation of an executive, may be necessary alongside a “more even handed approach involving both the British and Irish governments”.
Meanwhile, Ms O’Neill used her new year message to warn the DUP it is decision time saying it had rolled back on a deal to revive devolution prior to Christmas.
She said despite the setback at the Hillsborough Castle talks “we must focus once again on overcoming this in the new year”.
“Negotiations between the DUP and British Government on the Windsor Framework are concluded – it is time for the DUP to make a decision,” Ms O’Neill said.
Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris has insisted that talks with the DUP have concluded but in a new year’s message to supporters, Sir Jeffrey said that 2024 “is the year we want to see our negotiations successfully concluded” with the British government.