- By Jayne McCormack
- BBC News NI political correspondent
Protestors gathered outside Hillsborough Castle
Health workers staged a noisy protest demanding politicians “get back to work” as parties arrived for crucial talks with the government.
Protestors cornered the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) delegation after shouting “shame on you”.
They also chanted slogans calling for a return to Stormont as other parties, including Sinn Féin, arrived.
The talks involve the five largest Stormont parties and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris.
Mr Heaton-Harris said the aim of the talks was to address issues with Northern Ireland’s public finances.
Speaking before the talks at Hillsborough Castle, Mr Heaton-Harris said the government was “willing to help” put Northern Ireland’s finances on a stable footing.
Stormont government departments are facing financial pressures and the responsibility for setting a budget has lain with Mr Heaton-Harris in the absence of devolved government.
The party says the current plans undermine Northern Ireland’s position in the UK internal market.
It has refused to nominate a deputy first minister to allow an executive to be formed and has also blocked the election of an assembly Speaker on a number of occasions.
Chris Heaton-Harris says the government will help stabilise NI’s finances
Mr Heaton-Harris said separate talks with the DUP aimed at ending the devolution hiatus had not ended, but were making progress.
He said he would not be providing a running commentary on those talks.
Those discussions will take place in parallel with discussions about finances.
“I want to agree the basis upon which the Northern Ireland Executive can return on a stable financial footing,” Mr Heaton-Harris said.
“I also want to ensure that public services are able to meet the needs of the people of Northern Ireland.
“The UK government is willing to help, but all these issues can best be addressed by the return of locally accountable institutions built on secure foundations.”
‘Playing hide and seek’
Three has been speculation that the DUP is preparing to agree to re-enter government.
The party has denied this.
Its leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and deputy leader Gavin Robinson were heckled by health workers as they arrived at Hillsborough Castle.
The workers also shouted “fair pay” as other politicians, including Sinn Féin’s leader and deputy leader, arrived.
One protester told deputy leader Michelle O’Neill to tell Mr Heaton-Harris that he was “playing hide and seek”.
Ms O’Neill said he was “playing hide and seek with everybody”.
Stephanie Greenwood, chairperson of Unison, told Ms O’Neill: “You promised us in 2019 pay parity, we’re just asking you to deliver on that promise.”
The Sinn Féin deputy leader said she would be making that case to Mr Heaton-Harris.
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On Sunday, Sinn Féin said the government had told it that post-Brexit arrangement talks with the DUP had ended.
But the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) said this was “totally incorrect”.
The DUP said there was “further work yet to be completed” before negotiations with the government were over.
But Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Doug Beattie said he understood the talks were making good progress and were “nearing an end”.
We got an indication from the Northern Ireland secretary earlier when he said the government was “willing to help”.
I think that was the key line in what he had to say.
Now, we have to see what willing to help actually means in practical terms for Northern Ireland and I’m sure some of that will be fleshed out in the talks that are due to begin later.
Are we talking about, for example, some sort of a package which he is going to put on the table to try to entice the DUP back into government?
To dangle a few carrots in terms of fixing the financial problems in Northern Ireland, when it comes to equality around public sector pay?
That remains to be seen, but I think we got a slight indication from him that there may be something more substantial coming today than many of us thought.
Sir Jeffrey said more work was needed before a deal could be done to restore Stormont and some people were getting “overexcited” about the prospect of a deal.
The DUP leader added Monday’s meeting represented a “step forward” in talks with the government aimed at changing how Northern Ireland is funded.
“We will be clear with the government on Monday that we need to get a solution with recurring funding which enables us to invest in our schools and hospitals as well as pay our public servants appropriately,” he said.
Stormont’s five main political parties will meet the Northern Ireland secretary at Hillsborough Castle on Monday
Sinn Féin said it would use Monday’s meeting to call for a date to be set to restore the institutions and urge the government to deliver an accompanying financial package.
It has previously called on the government to “call time” on talks with the DUP and for the re-establishment of an executive and assembly.
Alliance has called for a formal deadline to be set, while the UUP and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) have also criticised the length of time it has taken to bring matters to a conclusion.
UUP leader Mr Beattie said financial asks must be realistic and temper expectations, adding: “I just want a funding package that can be directed to where it is needed at pace and with purpose.”
Speaking to BBC’s North West Today programme, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood called on Sir Jeffrey to show “political courage” in the talks and said there should be an immediate return to power-sharing.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
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