Responding to comments from the DUP Leader today, Sinn Féin Leas Uachtarán Michelle O’Neill said she remains committed to working towards a new Assembly and a new kind of politics in the New Year.

Michelle O’Neill said:

“Sinn Féin remains fully invested and committed to the Good Friday Agreement.

“The Agreement also requires, an Assembly, that works for everyone from all traditions and communities.

“The current political impasse is unsustainable and unacceptable.

“Three years after the RHI scandal brought the assembly down, people deserve a functioning government and genuine power-sharing.

“An agreement was reached in February last year, however, the DUP regrettably walked off the pitch. 

“That position is untenable.

“The delivery of rights cannot be avoided.

“Sinn Féin stands ready to form a credible, sustainable and inclusive executive.

“The Sinn Féin leadership met British Secretary of State Julian Smith last week to set out our position. We will meet Tánaiste Simon Coveney this week to do the same.

“If the Executive is to be credible, then it must deliver on issues such as public sector pay, safe staffing levels in the health service, economic policies that delivers prosperity for all and that invests in rural communities, and a mitigation package that protects people from Tory welfare reform.”

Michelle O’Neill added: “To be credible allthe outstanding issues must be dealt with including an Irish Language Act and reform of the Petition of Concern and we need to tackle the failure by the British government to implement the Stormont House Agreement and deal with the issue of legacy.”