Irish nationalists may force a prolonged collapse of Northern Ireland’s devolved government and a return to direct rule from London if they cannot agree a new government with unionists, the leader of the British province said on Friday.
First Minister Arlene Foster told Reuters such a scenario would be “very damaging” for a province recovering from three decades of sectarian violence and now facing the upheaval of Britain’s exit from the European Union, reports Reuters.
The province’s cross-community government – a forced coalition between Irish nationalists and Foster’s pro-British Democratic Unionist Party – collapsed last month after Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness resigned as deputy first minister.
Sinn Fein has detailed a number of red line issues it says must be met before it governs with the DUP again, including legislation to give equal status to the Irish language.
Sinn Fein has, however, not called for direct rule. Neither side has made any indication of compromise and decision-making would automatically return to Westminster if the deadlock persists.
“Sinn Fein seems to be saying if they don’t get what they want then they are prepared to live with direct rule,” Foster said in an interview.
Northern Ireland’s economy had prospered in the 10 years since devolved power was transferred to the Northern Ireland Assembly, she said.
“We will lose that if we have direct rule and that is very dangerous,” she said.
The two parties supported opposite sides of a three decade conflict between Irish nationalists who wanted a united Ireland ruled from Dublin and pro-British unionists who wanted the province to remain British, which ended with a 1998 peace deal.
Neither side is showing signs of blinking first ahead of next week’s election, which was triggered by McGuinness’ departure. Sinn Fein says he quit over the alleged abuse of a green-energy scheme, which could cost the Northern Ireland Executive nearly £500 million.
But Foster said the breakdown was “caused by Sinn Fein wanting to push ahead on their own agenda.”
