‘NI worked too hard for devolution to fail’ - Secretary

Everyone has worked too hard and for too long for devolution to fail in Northern Ireland, Secretary of State James Brokenshire has told UTV.

Speaking on Sunday afternoon, Mr Brokenshire said alternatives to the devolved institutions were not being contemplated amid the ongoing political chaos.

As the clock ticks down on Stormont’s future, with Monday’s deadline of 5pm looming before an election will have to be called, the Secretary of State warned of the dangers of divisive campaigns.

“Everyone has worked so hard over so many years to get to the settlement that we have today,” Mr Brokenshire said, adding that he would still continue to work to support the parties in trying to find a resolution.

However, if resolution is not achieved, he said that the message would be “how we can bring people back together again after an election campaign and get on with devolved government in Northern Ireland”.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin continues to insist that they will not nominate to the position of deputy First Minister after Martin McGuinness tendered his resignation over the Renewable Heat Incentive row.

They have until that Monday deadline to do so.

Otherwise, the public will have to prepare to go to the polls – an all but inevitable outcome at this late stage.

Sinn Féin’s Máirtín Ó Muilleoir has said that a host of issues have led to the current situation and that voters must now have their say in an election.

“Disastrous as the RHI scandal has been, the current political crisis goes way beyond that,” he said.

“The British government has failed to live up to its responsibilities under the Good Friday and subsequent agreements.

“It has refused to honour commitments on a Bill of Rights, an Irish Language Act, and on dealing with the legacy of the past.

“And the Irish government have acted as a bystander and allowed this to happen.”

While other issues may be unresolved, the current crisis was sparked over the RHI scandal which could cost the public purse £490m.

On Monday, DUP Economy Minister Simon Hamilton is expected to outline his plan to reduce the overspend while DUP Speaker Robin Newton will face a Sinn Féin motion of no confidence.

All in all, the devolution meltdown has cast a shadow of uncertainty over a series of big ticket Stormont Executive plans – including a payment scheme for households losing out under the UK Government’s so-called “bedroom tax”.

• UTV's Sara Moore reports on the latest political developments