There have been calls for the Irish government to be given an “enhanced role” in northern affairs if the institutions aren’t restored in the very near future.
With less than a week to go before the legislation enabling the deferment of an assembly election expires, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has called for a “serious conversation about shared stewardship” involving Dublin.
January 18 is that last day the Stormont assembly can sit to elect a speaker and executive ministers.
Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris is obliged to call an election to take place within 12 weeks if devolution is not restored.
However, it is widely expected that Mr Heaton-Harris will table emergency legislation similar to that which he brought forward last February extending the election deadline and enabling him to set a budget.
Earlier this week, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said there was a “real chance” to restore devolution.
Talks related to a restoration of the institutions broke-up before Christmas, with the British government insisting its substantive negotiations with the DUP regarding the party’s concerns around post-Brexit trading arrangements had concluded.
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson insisted the talks were ongoing and it is understood he met British government officials this week.
Ahead of next week’s deadline, Mr Eastwood told The Irish News that his party’s proposals for reforming the institutions, including changing the method of electing the speaker of the assembly, would “begin to break the logjam”.
He said those proposals needed to be “seriously considered by the British government as urgent next steps”.
“What can’t happen is direct rule or some diluted form of Tory administration of the north,” he said.
“The traditions that share our island must be given equal voice in its governance - for us that means a serious conversation about shared stewardship with an enhanced role for the Irish government.”
Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry said there was “real drift in the political process”, which was impacting on public services and the economy.
He said the region needed governance.
“The most likely development is the secretary of state becoming more interventionist, however, Alliance maintains that much more serious consideration is given to reform of the institutions,” he said.
“The underlying ability of the DUP or any other party to abuse the rules needs to be addressed – and those parties who are willing to govern this place need to be given the opportunity to do so.”