This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-61427418
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| NI Election 2022: DUP say protocol protest a clear message to UK and EU | NI Election 2022: DUP say protocol protest a clear message to UK and EU |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Sir Jeffrey has said promises made in relation to the Northern Ireland Protocol should have been delivered 16 months ago | Sir Jeffrey has said promises made in relation to the Northern Ireland Protocol should have been delivered 16 months ago |
| The DUP has sent a "clear message" to the government and EU that it is "serious about getting the protocol sorted", its leader has said. | The DUP has sent a "clear message" to the government and EU that it is "serious about getting the protocol sorted", its leader has said. |
| Sir Jeffrey Donaldson confirmed on Friday that he will not support the election of a new Stormont Speaker meaning the assembly can not sit. | Sir Jeffrey Donaldson confirmed on Friday that he will not support the election of a new Stormont Speaker meaning the assembly can not sit. |
| The party has been protesting against post-Brexit trading arrangements. | The party has been protesting against post-Brexit trading arrangements. |
| Speaking at Stormont, Sir Jeffrey said it was for the "prime minister now to outline what he intends to do". | Speaking at Stormont, Sir Jeffrey said it was for the "prime minister now to outline what he intends to do". |
| The Northern Ireland Protocol, a part of the UK-EU Brexit deal which keeps Northern Ireland aligned with the EU single market for goods, has been under fresh scrutiny following last week's elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly. | The Northern Ireland Protocol, a part of the UK-EU Brexit deal which keeps Northern Ireland aligned with the EU single market for goods, has been under fresh scrutiny following last week's elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly. |
| The protocol was designed to ensure free trade could continue across the Irish border. | |
| The election cemented a majority for assembly members who accept the protocol, including the new largest party, the republican party Sinn Féin. | The election cemented a majority for assembly members who accept the protocol, including the new largest party, the republican party Sinn Féin. |
| Sinn Féin can now nominate someone to the post of first minister, but the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), now Northern Ireland's second-largest party, has said it would not nominate ministers until its concerns about protocol are resolved. | Sinn Féin can now nominate someone to the post of first minister, but the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), now Northern Ireland's second-largest party, has said it would not nominate ministers until its concerns about protocol are resolved. |
| The Northern Ireland Executive cannot meet without a first and deputy first minister, the roles are joint and one cannot exist without the other. | |
| The executive collapsed in February when the DUP first minister resigned in protest over the protocol, this meant the deputy first minister had to leave their post as well. | |
| Other ministers who were in office at that time can continue in a caretaker fashion but their powers are limited. | |
| 'The choice is clear' | |
| The election of a new Speaker needs cross-community support from both unionist and nationalist members. | The election of a new Speaker needs cross-community support from both unionist and nationalist members. |
| A new Speaker would mean assembly business could take place for up to six months, even in the absence of a functioning executive. | A new Speaker would mean assembly business could take place for up to six months, even in the absence of a functioning executive. |
| Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O'Neill said the DUP's decision not to support the election of a Speaker would "punish the public". | |
| "They are disgracefully holding the public to ransom for their Brexit mess," she added. | |
| NI Secretary Brandon Lewis said he was disappointed by the DUP's move, tweeting that Northern Ireland deserved a stable and accountable devolved government. | |
| Great to have MLAs back in Stormont today, but disappointing to see a Speaker has not yet been nominated.The people of Northern Ireland voted and deserve a stable and accountable devolved government. I urge the parties to come together and form an Executive. | |
| DUP threatens to stop assembly functioning | DUP threatens to stop assembly functioning |
| What do voters think of the NI Protocol? | What do voters think of the NI Protocol? |
| UK rejects EU plans to deal with NI Protocol | UK rejects EU plans to deal with NI Protocol |
| A simple guide to the Brexit border problem | A simple guide to the Brexit border problem |
| The UK government has said it wants to override parts of the treaty it signed in 2020, but Sir Jeffrey said it would "not be words that determine how we [the DUP] proceed, it will be actions". | The UK government has said it wants to override parts of the treaty it signed in 2020, but Sir Jeffrey said it would "not be words that determine how we [the DUP] proceed, it will be actions". |
| "The choice is clear if the European Union is serious about protecting the political institutions and the Belfast agreement, and its successor agreements then they know what to do," he continued. | |
| "Equally the same message is there for our own government as well. | "Equally the same message is there for our own government as well. |
| "The ball is firmly at the foot of the government." | "The ball is firmly at the foot of the government." |
| DUP move things up a gear | DUP move things up a gear |
| Without a Speaker, the Northern Ireland Assembly cannot meet or function. | Without a Speaker, the Northern Ireland Assembly cannot meet or function. |
| It basically means, in the words of my colleague BBC Political Correspondent Jayne McCormack, that we have a "silent assembly". | It basically means, in the words of my colleague BBC Political Correspondent Jayne McCormack, that we have a "silent assembly". |
| It is one of the few moves left open to the DUP to try and apply pressure. | It is one of the few moves left open to the DUP to try and apply pressure. |
| In other words, the party is saying to London and Brussels you can have the protocol or Stormont - but you can't have both. | In other words, the party is saying to London and Brussels you can have the protocol or Stormont - but you can't have both. |
| This is a big gamble for the DUP in the hope there will be movement on the protocol to allow the party to return to Stormont. | This is a big gamble for the DUP in the hope there will be movement on the protocol to allow the party to return to Stormont. |
| What if there is no change? How long will the party stay away from the assembly and the executive? How will the public react? | What if there is no change? How long will the party stay away from the assembly and the executive? How will the public react? |
| What of the fact that a majority of MLAs support the protocol and does this look like the DUP are holding people to ransom? | What of the fact that a majority of MLAs support the protocol and does this look like the DUP are holding people to ransom? |
| This is the DUP moving things up a gear. | This is the DUP moving things up a gear. |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |
| What happens if no Speaker is elected? | What happens if no Speaker is elected? |
| Without a Speaker there can be no debates, no committees, nor private member's bills or assembly scrutiny of ministers | Without a Speaker there can be no debates, no committees, nor private member's bills or assembly scrutiny of ministers |
| There can also be no election of the first and deputy first ministers | There can also be no election of the first and deputy first ministers |
| Current ministers can continue to oversee their departments in a caretaker capacity, however, their powers are limited without being part of an executive | Current ministers can continue to oversee their departments in a caretaker capacity, however, their powers are limited without being part of an executive |
| Sir Jeffrey has argued the protocol has eroded the foundations "devolution has been built upon" and undermined Northern Ireland's position in the UK. | |
| He said it would "not be words that determine how we proceed, it will be actions". | |
| "The choice is clear if the European Union is serious about protecting the political institutions and the Belfast agreement, and its successor agreements then they know what to do. | |
| "Equally the same message is there for our own government as well. | |
| "The ball is firmly at the foot of the government." | |
| Sir Jeffrey has argued the protocol has eroded the foundations "devolution has been built upon" and undermined Northern Ireland's position in the UK. | |
| Most politicians elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly want the protocol to remain | |
| Michelle O'Neill said it was "shameful" that there would be no executive or assembly. | |
| "Today is the day we should be forming an executive to put money in peoples pockets and to start to fix our health service," she tweeted. | "Today is the day we should be forming an executive to put money in peoples pockets and to start to fix our health service," she tweeted. |
| "The DUP have confirmed they will punish the public and not turn up." | "The DUP have confirmed they will punish the public and not turn up." |
| Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin said the EU had been flexible in its approach to the negotiations with the UK government, but this had not been reciprocated. | Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin said the EU had been flexible in its approach to the negotiations with the UK government, but this had not been reciprocated. |
| "There are issues that unionism have raised with us in respect of the protocol, but those issues should not prevent the establishment of the assembly," he added. | "There are issues that unionism have raised with us in respect of the protocol, but those issues should not prevent the establishment of the assembly," he added. |
| Alliance Party leader Naomi Long described the situation as "incredibly frustrating". | Alliance Party leader Naomi Long described the situation as "incredibly frustrating". |
| "If they're not willing to get into government, the UK government needs to adjust the law in order that the rest of us can do our jobs," she told BBC News NI's Good Morning Ulster. | "If they're not willing to get into government, the UK government needs to adjust the law in order that the rest of us can do our jobs," she told BBC News NI's Good Morning Ulster. |
| "No party should be able to lock us out of government and when you play with fire, you will get burned." | "No party should be able to lock us out of government and when you play with fire, you will get burned." |
| The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Doug Beattie said the UK and EU negotiators cannot "keep having a circular conversation with no progress being made". | The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Doug Beattie said the UK and EU negotiators cannot "keep having a circular conversation with no progress being made". |
| "If there is serious will from the EU to resolve the problems caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol then we need to see movement from them." | "If there is serious will from the EU to resolve the problems caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol then we need to see movement from them." |
| Colin McGrath, of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), said the DUP leader would try to "cover his tracks for not doing what any democratic society asks people to do". | Colin McGrath, of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), said the DUP leader would try to "cover his tracks for not doing what any democratic society asks people to do". |
| "The DUP will throw everything they can today to try and defend their indefensible actions," he added. | "The DUP will throw everything they can today to try and defend their indefensible actions," he added. |
| GOVERNMENT CRISIS: What happens next? | GOVERNMENT CRISIS: What happens next? |
| DOMINANCE TO DECLINE: The fall of the UUP and SDLP | DOMINANCE TO DECLINE: The fall of the UUP and SDLP |
| HISTORIC MOMENT: From IRA politics to NI's biggest party | HISTORIC MOMENT: From IRA politics to NI's biggest party |
| SINN FEIN: What does the party want? | SINN FEIN: What does the party want? |
| THE ASSEMBLY: How power-sharing works in Northern Ireland | THE ASSEMBLY: How power-sharing works in Northern Ireland |
| RESULTS: The assembly election in maps and charts | RESULTS: The assembly election in maps and charts |