Sinn Féin has labelled talks aimed at restoring the devolved Government at Stormont in Northern Ireland “a sham.”

The North’s main parties met Britain’s Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley and the Tánaiste Simon Coveney yesterday evening for talks aimed at returning power-sharing to the region.

The North has been without a devolved Government for over two years

The previous administration collapsed following controversy over DUP leader Arlene Foster’s handling of a botched renewable energy scheme.

Despite continuous attempts to break the impasse, Sinn Féin and the DUP have found it impossible to find common ground on a range of issues – notably the Irish Language Act (Acht na Gaeilge), legacy issues and citizens rights.

The Sinn Féin leadership, (left to right) Conor Murphy, Michelle O’Neill, Gerry Kelly and Mary Lou McDonald, following Stormont talks, 15-02-2019. Image: David Young/PA Wire/PA Images

Stormont

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald described last night’s talks as “a sham.”

“I have to say we believe that this is, as they might say, all to meet the eye,” she said.

“This is window dressing; this is not a serious attempt to deal with the issues that have kept the issues down.

“Unfortunately the DUP are still in denial.

“They still believe they can deny people their basic rights and that people should dance to that tune. The DUP have not moved an inch.”

She said the talks had only service to establish that the DUP “remains wedded to an agenda of denial of rights” and the British Government “are happy to facilitate that veto.”

DUP leader Arlene Foster MEP Diane Dodds at Stormont in Belfast ahead of powersharing talks, 15-02-2019. Image: David Young/PA Wire/PA Images

Ransom

Arlene foster accused Sinn Féin of holding the North “to ransom.”

“Most people in Northern Ireland want to see us getting back in to deal with all of the issues that affect them in their everyday lives, instead of dealing with very narrow sectional issues” she said.

“Sinn Féin have held Northern Ireland to ransom over this past two years.

“I deeply regret that.”

For his part, the Tánaiste Simon Coveney described the talks as “not straightforward.”

Cash for Ash

There has been no executive at Stormont since Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness resigned his position in protest over the DUPs handling of the ‘Cash for Ash’ scandal.

The scandal revolved around Renewable Heating Incentive (RHI) scheme which was designed to encourage businesses to replace older heating sources with eco-friendly alternatives.

Errors in the scheme - introduced under the watch of Ms Foster while she was enterprise minister – meant that subsidies exceeded the cost price of the fuel, effectively encouraging users to burn extra fuel in order to claim money.

Mrs Foster refused to stand down while an inquiry was carried out into the scandal - prompting Mr McGuinness to resign his position.

The scandal had the potential to cost the taxpayer between £400m and £500m (€457 - €570) – however, efforts are underway to reduce the burden.