Statement by Sinn Féin Leas Uachtarán Michelle O’Neill MLA:

“It is now more than 1,000 days since the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement collapsed as a result of a financial scandal, discrimination against sections of society and a lack of respect for Irish national identity within the Executive and Assembly by the DUP.

“Sinn Féin recognises it is unsustainable to have no Executive delivering public services and providing political leadership.

“We did agree a way forward in 2018 but the DUP walked away from the deal and walked away from talks.

“The talks process established by the Irish and British Governments on 7 May 2019 following the brutal and tragic killing of journalist Lyra McKee in Derry have failed thus far to produce a successful outcome.

“Both the DUP and British government have continued to resist advancing equality and human rights guarantees in law for all citizens.

“The toxic DUP/Tory pact continues to impede political progress and social reform, and has eroded all pretence of the rigorous impartiality required of the British government as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement.

“The British government’s proposal of a unionist veto in the Brexit context is totally unacceptable and makes political progress even more difficult. 

“In terms of attempts to restore the political institutions, let me be absolutely clear, there will be no unionist veto at Stormont in terms of the Brexit negotiations. 

“If the institutions are to be re-established on a durable basis, the issues of equality, rights, integrity and respect which caused the collapse of the Assembly must also be addressed and resolved.”