South Down MLA Karen McKevitt (SDLP) was part of a delegation that met with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Joan Burton to discuss the fallout from the recent breakdown in all-party talks on the past, flags and parading.
Speaking following the meeting at Leinster House, Dublin, on Monday, Ms McKevitt said: “The SDLP has always said that both the Dublin and London Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, need to be involved in all levels of the process. We still believe that.
“It was a very productive meeting and a necessary one. The situation in the north is volatile. Unionist threats of a ‘graduated response’ to the Parades Commission determination on the Ardoyne parade will do nothing to ease tensions. What must happen now is the continuation of talks, and everybody must come back around the table.
“The SDLP was committed to the Haass/O’Sullivan process. We committed ourselves fully to the all-party talks chaired by Paul Sweeney. We know there was enough on the table to create the potential for a workable solution to the past, parading and flags if strong leadership was shown by all.
“Let’s stop the posturing, get back around the table and begin the process of dialogue on these contentious issues so that we are not revisiting the same scenario, summer on summer.”
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