16 June 2021 - Sinn Féin calls for Westminster intervention over Irish language act
Irish-language row threatens to derail Northern Ireland government
Rory Carroll (The Guardian, 14/06/2021)
A dispute between Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) over an Irish-language act is threatening to derail the Northern Ireland assembly and executive.
Arlene Foster formally resigned as first minister at 1pm on Monday but a standoff between the two biggest parties at Stormont is blocking her designated successor, Paul Givan, 39, from taking the post.
If Sinn Féin and the DUP do not resolve the crisis within seven days – by 1pm on 21 June – the devolved power-sharing institutions will collapse and there will be an early assembly election.
Sinn Fein call on UK Government to legislate for Irish language at Westminster after Stormont stalemate
Gareth Cross (Belfast Telegraph, 14/06/2021)
Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald has called on the UK Government to introduce Irish language legislation at Westminster.
Mrs McDonald said she was taking the step after DUP leader Edwin Poots told the party he would not be introducing Irish language legislation in the currently Assembly mandate.
The Sinn Fein leader said the party now saw no other way to resolve the issues around the Irish language.
Political crisis looms as Sinn Féin accuses Poots of 'bad faith' on Irish Language Act
(ITV, 14/06/2021)
Sinn Féin has accused DUP leader Edwin Poots of acting in "bad faith", and said that the nominations of a first minister and deputy first minister at Stormont this week have to be accompanied by the progression of Irish language legislation.
Sinn Féin's conclusion that they "do not believe" Mr Poots will deliver on the Irish Language Act could spark a political crisis at Stormont.
When Arlene Foster formally resigns as First Minister on Monday, deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill is automatically removed from her post as well - as the joint office can only function if both positions are filled.
DUP's Arlene Foster formally resigns and criticises Northern Ireland Protocol
(Sky News, 14/06/2021)
Northern Ireland's first minister Arlene Foster has formally resigned.
Mrs Foster used her farewell speech to criticise the Northern Ireland Protocol, a key part of the Brexit agreement between the UK and EU designed to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.
She said the arrangement had created an "imbalance".