Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan has accepted that an Assembly election in Northern Ireland is now “very likely”, following a series of meetings in Stormont on Thursday. The Stormont Assembly effectively collapsed on Monday after Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness resigned as deputy first minister in protest at DUP first minister Arlene Foster’s refusal to step aside temporarily while an inquiry took place into the “cash for ash” renewable heat incentive scheme. The joint terms of the office meant that DUP leader Arlene Foster also ceased to act as First Minister following Mr McGuiness’s resignation.
On Thursday, Mr Flanagan held separate meetings on the political crisis with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire, DUP leader Arlene Foster and with a Sinn Féin delegation led by Martin McGuinness.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Flanagan seemed to indicate that a new Assembly election was inevitable, although he said there was a slim chance that it could be averted. “I said on Monday that an election was likely. I can say now as we move towards the end of the week that that scenario seems even more likely.
Full Article: Northern Ireland election is ‘very likely’, Minister says.