"The British government has a decisive and central role in facilitating agreement, guaranteeing the agreements and safeguarding the rights and equality of all citizens. We agreed to speak again as the talks process develops.”
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD and Leas Uachtarán Michelle O’Neill MLA spoke by phone with British Prime Minster Theresa May.
Following the conservation, which took place on Monday, Mary Lou McDonald said: “We are now into the second week of talks. I told the British Prime minister the Sinn Féin negotiation team is fully and positively engaged. We believe that the outstanding issues can and must be resolved and the power-sharing government re-established at Stormont."
McDonald added: "The issues we face are not insurmountable or unresolvable. Agreement can be reached and the institutions restored with the positive political will and support of all parties and both governments.
The way forward is through implementation of agreements already made, safeguarding rights enjoyed by citizens in the rest of Ireland and in Britain, and delivering good governance."
The Sinn Féin president continued: "We discussed the ongoing challenges of Brexit and the need to resolve the legacy issues as agreed at Stormont House. I remain convinced that agreement is possible, and the power sharing institutions can be re-established operating to the highest standards with equality and rights at their core.
The British government has a decisive and central role in facilitating agreement, guaranteeing the agreements and safeguarding the rights and equality of all citizens. We agreed to speak again as the talks process develops.”
