'No Current Prospect' To Restore Power-Sharing In NI - DUP

DUP leader Arlene Foster has confirmed there is "no current prospect" to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland.

The DUP and Sinn Fein have been unable to agree a deal to restore the Executive and Mrs Foster called on the Westminster government to set a budget.

She said: "I have made it consistently clear that unionists will not countenance a stand alone or free standing Irish Language Act.  Sinn Fein’s insistence on a stand alone Irish Language Act means that we have reached an impasse.

"It is now incumbent upon Her Majesty’s Government to set a budget and start making policy decisions about our schools, hospitals and infrastructure. Important decisions impacting on everyone in Northern Ireland have been sitting in limbo for too long. I had dearly hoped that we could have restored an Executive and local Ministers could have taken those decisions. That is not possible at this time. Northern Ireland is best governed by local Ministers who are accountable to local people.

"Restoring a sustainable and fully functioning devolved government will remain our goal but we will not accept a one-sided deal."

(CD)