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Martin McGuinness to decide whether to stand down from NI assembly Martin McGuinness to decide whether to stand down from NI assembly
(about 1 hour later)
Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland’s deputy first minister, is expected to make a second statement about his future following his announcement on Monday that he was resigning from the post. Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland’s deputy first minister, is expected to make a second statement about his future following his announcement on Monday that he is resigning from the post.
Sources in Dublin said McGuinness was considering whether or not to stand in the expected fresh election to the Northern Ireland assembly, which was triggered by his resignation. Sources in Dublin have said McGuinness is considering whether or not to stand in the expected fresh election to the Northern Ireland assembly, which was triggered by his resignation.
“He did say he would be making a second statement soon on his plans for the forthcoming election, but given his condition it is expected he will not be standing this time around,” one senior source in the republic said.“He did say he would be making a second statement soon on his plans for the forthcoming election, but given his condition it is expected he will not be standing this time around,” one senior source in the republic said.
But other sources in Derry said his decision hung in the balance because Sinn Féin was “short of big hitters”. But other sources in Derry said his decision hangs in the balance because Sinn Féin was “short of big hitters”.
McGuinness resigned in protest against the refusal by the first minister, Arlene Foster, to stand down temporarily while a public inquiry took place into the “cash for ash” green energy scandal that has rocked the power-sharing government.McGuinness resigned in protest against the refusal by the first minister, Arlene Foster, to stand down temporarily while a public inquiry took place into the “cash for ash” green energy scandal that has rocked the power-sharing government.
While Foster has been under fire over the renewable heat initiative (RHI), McGuinness and Sinn Féin have had to field questions about the deputy first minister’s apparent ailing health.While Foster has been under fire over the renewable heat initiative (RHI), McGuinness and Sinn Féin have had to field questions about the deputy first minister’s apparent ailing health.
McGuinness denied his decision to resign had anything to do with his health, but senior sources in Dublin said a report on RTÉ that he had a rare condition that affects the heart and central nervous system would affect his decision over standing in the second election to the assembly in less than a year.McGuinness denied his decision to resign had anything to do with his health, but senior sources in Dublin said a report on RTÉ that he had a rare condition that affects the heart and central nervous system would affect his decision over standing in the second election to the assembly in less than a year.
If McGuinness does stand down from the seat of Foyle in his native Derry, Sinn Féin will have to choose a new leader in the next assembly. The two frontrunners to fill his position and possibly become deputy first or even first minister would be the former Newry and Armagh MP and ex-IRA prisoner Conor Murphy, or Sinn Féin’s minister of health, Michelle O’Neill. If McGuinness does stand down from the seat of Foyle in his native Derry, Sinn Féin will have to choose a new leader in the next assembly. The two frontrunners to fill his position and possibly become deputy or even first minister would be the former Newry and Armagh MP and ex-IRA prisoner Conor Murphy, or Sinn Féin’s minister of health, Michelle O’Neill.
O’Neill appeared on Radio Ulster on Tuesday morning to criticise the DUP’s handling of the crisis. “Sinn Féin will not tolerate such incompetence and corruption,” she said.O’Neill appeared on Radio Ulster on Tuesday morning to criticise the DUP’s handling of the crisis. “Sinn Féin will not tolerate such incompetence and corruption,” she said.
Until McGuinness’s resignation on Monday, Sinn Féin had been under fire from opposition parties over its refusal to back a motion in the regional parliament before Christmas declaring a no-confidence vote in Foster.Until McGuinness’s resignation on Monday, Sinn Féin had been under fire from opposition parties over its refusal to back a motion in the regional parliament before Christmas declaring a no-confidence vote in Foster.
Sinn Féin was the DUP’s sole partner in the power-sharing government. Under the unique rules of devolution in Northern Ireland, if any of the two principal political leaders in the province resign from office, the entire coalition falls and an election must be called.Sinn Féin was the DUP’s sole partner in the power-sharing government. Under the unique rules of devolution in Northern Ireland, if any of the two principal political leaders in the province resign from office, the entire coalition falls and an election must be called.
Meanwhile, Labour’s Northern Ireland spokesman has appealed to all parties in the devolved assembly to try to avoid what is likely to be a highly divisive election. Dave Anderson said the parties should “just keep talking to see if there is another way out of this”. Making a statement to MPs in Westminster the Northern Ireland secretary, James Brokenshire, urged the region’s politicians to do all they could to avoid a potentially damaging early election.
“I am in no doubt that what Northern Ireland needs at this time is strong, stable, devolved government, not a collapse of the institutions,” he said.
The recent period of political stability “has been hard gained and it should not be lightly thrown away”, he argued.
Brokenshire said he had been in discussions with Sinn Féin and the DUP as well as opposition parties in Northern Ireland and the Irish government, and was about to return to Belfast to seek a resolution to the crisis.
However, he warned MPs that with Sinn Féin having said it would not nominate anyone else to replace McGuiness, if nothing happened within a week he would be obliged to call new assembly elections to take place within “a reasonable period”.
“As things stand, therefore, an early assembly election appears highly likely,” he said, calling the situation “grave”.
“I will continue to do whatever I can to provide a way forward,” Brokenshire said. “We do, however have to be realistic. The clock is ticking.”
Labour’s Northern Ireland spokesman has appealed to all parties in the devolved assembly to try to avoid what is likely to be a highly divisive election. Dave Anderson said the parties should “just keep talking to see if there is another way out of this”.
Anderson told Radio Ulster on Tuesday that McGuinness’s resignation was bad news. “I understand the deep sense of frustration, but I don’t think this is in anyone’s interest.”Anderson told Radio Ulster on Tuesday that McGuinness’s resignation was bad news. “I understand the deep sense of frustration, but I don’t think this is in anyone’s interest.”
The shadow secretary of state said that even after an election the issue of the RHI still needed to resolved.The shadow secretary of state said that even after an election the issue of the RHI still needed to resolved.
On the refusal by the Democratic Unionists and the first minister to stand down, Anderson said: “The DUP have to be convinced that they have a wider responsibility not just to themselves and Northern Ireland but also to the UK as a whole.”On the refusal by the Democratic Unionists and the first minister to stand down, Anderson said: “The DUP have to be convinced that they have a wider responsibility not just to themselves and Northern Ireland but also to the UK as a whole.”
The Ulster Unionist party, which sits on the opposition benches in the assembly, predicted that with the assembly’s imminent collapse, the DUP-Sinn Féin executive would be unable to set a budget for the financial year. The party has predicted redundancies in the state and community sector as a result.The Ulster Unionist party, which sits on the opposition benches in the assembly, predicted that with the assembly’s imminent collapse, the DUP-Sinn Féin executive would be unable to set a budget for the financial year. The party has predicted redundancies in the state and community sector as a result.
The UUP assembly member Philip Smith said: “The DUP and Sinn Féin’s inability to govern not only looks set to collapse the executive, but also ensure that Northern Ireland will be in the frightening position of entering into the 2017-18 financial year without a functioning budget.The UUP assembly member Philip Smith said: “The DUP and Sinn Féin’s inability to govern not only looks set to collapse the executive, but also ensure that Northern Ireland will be in the frightening position of entering into the 2017-18 financial year without a functioning budget.
“The consequences of such a scenario would be profound. Staff in those community groups dependent on support from government will shortly be given protective redundancy notice, the crisis in our health service will further deteriorate as vital funding decisions are abandoned, and there could be a devastating 7% in-year cut to public services.“The consequences of such a scenario would be profound. Staff in those community groups dependent on support from government will shortly be given protective redundancy notice, the crisis in our health service will further deteriorate as vital funding decisions are abandoned, and there could be a devastating 7% in-year cut to public services.
“An ongoing failure to produce a budget will see vital public services, such as public transport and schools, effectively running on bare minimum with only skeleton management at the top of local executive departments as officials avoid taking any policy decisions.”“An ongoing failure to produce a budget will see vital public services, such as public transport and schools, effectively running on bare minimum with only skeleton management at the top of local executive departments as officials avoid taking any policy decisions.”
The RHI was set up by Foster in 2012 when she was Northern Ireland’s enterprise minister.The RHI was set up by Foster in 2012 when she was Northern Ireland’s enterprise minister.
It was devised to increase energy consumption from renewable sources. However, non-domestic users, such as farmers, received subsidies far in excess of what they paid for heating – about £1.60 for every £1 they spent on RHI. The scheme is expected to cost taxpayers up to £500m in lost revenue.It was devised to increase energy consumption from renewable sources. However, non-domestic users, such as farmers, received subsidies far in excess of what they paid for heating – about £1.60 for every £1 they spent on RHI. The scheme is expected to cost taxpayers up to £500m in lost revenue.