Sinn Féin and the DUP have held out the possibility of powersharing talks being resurrected in the future after yesterday's acrimonious collapse of negotiations. The row boils down to a row over the presentation of new laws to protect Irish language speakers. Sinn Féin want a stand-alone Irish Language Act; the DUP are prepared to legislate for Irish speakers but only as part of wider legislation that incorporates the Ulster Scots culture, and not via a free-standing Irish Language Act. Mr Murphy told Radio Ulster that "good faith" that has existed during the negotiations "evaporated" with the DUP move. Sinn Féin insists the Irish government must have a key role in the region if Stormont does not return.

Source: Evening echo February 15, 2018 11:48 UTC