Taoiseach to speak to Rishi Sunak about DUP deal as Mary Lou McDonald urges 'stability'

DUP leader Jeffery Donaldson MP during a press conference at Hinch Distillery, Ballynahinch. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

There has been a positive reaction in the political world to the news that the DUP has backed a UK government deal which should lead to the return of Stormont powersharing after two years.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson told reporters in a late-night press conference that he had secured the “decisive” backing of the 130-strong party executive during a marathon meeting on Monday night.

The party has been using a veto to block Stormont’s devolved institutions for two years in the wake of the Northern Ireland Assembly elections in 2022 which saw Sinn Féin top the polls for the first time — meaning they would nominate a First Minister while the DUP would nominate a Deputy First Minister.

The DUP used their power in protest at post-Brexit arrangements that they say have created trade barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Speaking on his way into Cabinet on Tuesday morning, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: “At the outset, I want to welcome the news from Co Down that came in the early hours of this morning, news that the DUP is willing to re-enter the power-sharing Executive in Northern Ireland.

“That’s really important because it means that devolved democratic government can be restored in Northern Ireland and the Executive can get down to the hard work of dealing with some of the everyday problems that people face north of the border.

“It will also enable the north-south bodies to function again, which is very important in terms of north-south cooperation.

“For our part, the Irish government is very keen to work very closely with the new Executive to do all that we can do to make sure that it’s successful and that it lasts because success and sustainability are really important.”

Mr Varadkar also said he would speak to British prime minister Rishi Sunak later on Tuesday to discuss the next steps.

“I should say that while there have been consultations between the European Commission, the Irish government and the British government from the last number of months, we haven’t seen the fine detail of what’s been agreed just yet," he explained

“So obviously we’ll need to see that and and be confident that it doesn’t have any negative consequences for the Windsor Framework or for the Good Friday Agreement.

“I don’t anticipate that it does but we have to see the exact detail of that first.”

After news broke of the DUP reaching the agreement, Tánaiste Michéal Martin took to social media to "welcome" the news.

Speaking on X on Tuesday morning, Mr Martin said: "The imminent return of the Assembly and Executive is good news for the people of Northern Ireland, and the Good Friday Agreement.

"I look forward to working with the Executive and Assembly in the time ahead."

I welcome last night’s decision by the DUP. The imminent return of the Assembly and Executive is good news for the people of Northern Ireland, and the Good Friday Agreement.

I look forward to working with the Executive and Assembly in the time ahead.

— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) January 30, 2024

Justice Minister Helen McEntee added that it was "very, very welcome news". 

“(It) has been long awaited, I think by a lot of people,” Ms McEntee added.

“It’s over two years now since we’ve had an Executive in the north and I think in particular people in Northern Ireland want to have a functioning Executive.

“So obviously, I hope this will be a pathway towards getting that up and running. But really, it’s very, very welcome news.

“It could be a matter of days and not before time and of course the Taoiseach and Tanaiste and all of government will work with the new Executive and support them in whatever way that they can.”

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald said she was optimistic Stormont could return before the next legislative deadline for forming an administration, February 8.

“I am optimistic having heard Jeffrey Donaldson’s public declaration that we will see the northern institutions back up and running before the February 8 deadline with a fully functioning Assembly and Executive and north south bodies,” she said.

“Sinn Féin will now engage with the parties and both governments to ensure we now all press on without delay.

“It is vital there is political stability to address the scale of the crisis across our public services.

"Let’s now focus minds on the job at hand and to the solutions required to support workers and families who want and deserve functioning government.”

However, Alliance Party MLA for North Belfast Nuala McAllister said that one word could be used to describe the situation: finally.

"I think over the coming day, Jeffrey will get a lot of praise aimed at him and I can't help think it's for something that the DUP should have done two years ago," she told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.

"There has been a lot of damage done in the two years because of the DUP's boycott. Our public services are crumbling, our economy has so many missed opportunites and other areas have been scarred.

"There is a lot of work to do."