PM meets NI leaders over Stormont impasse

Prime Minister Theresa May has met with the leaders of the DUP and Sinn Féin in an attempt to revive efforts to get Stormont up and running.

Following talks at Westminster on Tuesday morning, the DUP’s Arlene Foster said her party was committed to returning a devolved government for Northern Ireland.

She added that Sinn Féin’s behaviour at the weekend was making things difficult, accusing the party of “glorifying terrorism” at their Ard Fheis.

Party delegates cheered on Saturday when Foyle MP Elisha McCallion described the late Martin McGuinness as a proud member of the IRA.

“We are talking about a deal unionism and nationalism can live with. They are talking about nationalism and that's it,” Mrs Foster said.

Emerging after his own meeting with Mrs May, Mr Adams insisted: “I didn't see any glorification of anyone at the Ard Fheis.

“I also, standing outside the office of the British Prime Minister, want to refute the use of this term ‘terrorism’.

“Pejorative terms like that - which are about the sons and daughters of families, husbands and wives of families, who happened to serve in the Irish Republican Army and who died in the conflict - I don’t use those terms.

“So let's have a wee bit of sense about this.”

Theresa May said both parties had “expressed their commitment” to seeing Stormont restored.

“From our discussions, it is clear that the issues dividing the parties are relatively small in number, focusing mainly around culture, legacy, identity and the future stability of the devolved institutions,” the PM said.

“While not in any way underestimating the challenges involved, I believe that a way forward can be found and an agreement reached.”