big issues. i'll to deal with those big issues. i'll polish you there. we react to the news sinn fein has become the largest party in northern ireland, and welcoming now, viewers on bbc world. hello to viewers of bbc willjoin bbc news domestically now. i am a native here in belfast at one of the counts of the elections to the northern ireland power—sharing assembly and it has just been confirmed in the last few seconds the official news that sinn fein, the official news that sinn fein, the nationalist party that wants to see a united ireland, has become the largest party, the party with the most seats in the northern ireland assembly. the 27 seats know the party can overtake sinn fein which is to be confirmed will be the largest party in the assembly and it is the first time a party in favour

of uniting ireland has come top in a stormont election. sinn fein�*s lead stormont election. sinn fein�*s lead stormont michelle o'neill has declared that northern ireland is entering a new era and said it was a defining moment. she will now be nominated as first minister in this power—sharing arrangement that was set up under the good friday agreement in the 19805. i'm joined by freya mcclements, northern editor of the irish times. i'm joined by brendan hughes, political reporter at belfast live. this obviously brings into question the whole concert of irish unity and it will give a great boost in support to those in the party and also there in the wider population

who do want irish unity and it is worth pointing out that is not going to happen any time soon and that is not in the gift of sinn fein whether they hold first minister or indeed any other position, that is down to uk secretary of state, but obviously the government in dublin will be looking on at all of this in this context but also very specifically because of the position sinn fein holds in the polls there. sinn fein added party of opposition on the republic of ireland if you like and again are pulling extremely strongly and this will add to sinn fein�*s ambitions to beat the party of government on both sides of the border if that happened many people expect that will happen in the republic inevitably that will increase again that call for unity. that is for the future. the much more immediate and pressing challenges for the sinn fein and the other parties, the other 90 politicians affect atomic elected to the northern ireland assembly can actually get back round the table and get that executive functioning.

for our viewers, just explain the problems that lie ahead because the democratic unionist party is opposed to the northern ireland protocol, which governs post—brexit trade in northern ireland, sojust explain the difficulties for our viewers around a return to power—sharing. yes, so this is a huge problem and we have seen the results coming in the election but there is actually no guarantee there will be government formed any time soon. the dup as you said i will post the northern ireland protocol and earlier this year the first minister resigned as part of the dup's protest over this. because of the power—sharing arrangement that is a joint office and you cannot have a first minister with us to deputy first minister with us to deputy first minister with us to deputy first minister and at that time it was michelle o'neill who is now boiled to be first minister. it has been repeated today over the last couple of days of the counting that they will not go back into an executive, they will not take up the

position in the position of deputy first minister that they will be entitled to until the issues of the revolt atomic result. that will have to results of their satisfaction and there is absolutely no indication this is going to happen any time soon so we seem set for a long period of limbo but it is worth saying sinn fein and the other parties are stressing they want to get back in on monday, get government up and running again for people in northern ireland but quite how we solve this impasse i just don't know. how we solve this impasse i “ust don-t knomfi how we solve this impasse i 'ust don't know. then interviews from irish news. _ don't know. then interviews from irish news, let _ don't know. then interviews from irish news, let me _ don't know. then interviews from irish news, let me bring - don't know. then interviews from irish news, let me bring back - don't know. then interviews from irish news, let me bring back in. | irish news, let me bring back in. judgment pending is. no matter what the political background of voters there are issues here in common with people around the world and the cost having locally elected politicians to make decisions on health care and education and so on, the many people that will be the most pressing concern and that is why they will want politicians to return to government at stormont in belfast. i

think that is what we have seen in the election and the majority of people voted for parties that wanted to get stormont back up and running. the dup than on a platform where they were saying we wouldn't go back into the executive immediately and they were running in a position to they were running in a position to the northern ireland protocol and wanted to see the uk and european union provide some sort of measures, really, to try and address some of theissues really, to try and address some of the issues are rare but they have lost seats as a result of the selection, they have lost some vote share in the majority of people voted for parties that wanted to see the executive back up and running as freya says the problem is that part of our power—sharing arrangement is that it of our power—sharing arrangement is thatitis of our power—sharing arrangement is that it is a mandatory coalition between the largest unionist party and the largest nationalist party. it needs to have both of those parties involved in that system and if one decides to not take part then there can be no stormont power—sharing executive so we are really left in this, as freya has said, a limbo period where we don't have an executive in place and it appears we are going to be going

into what could be a long talks process. we know there was legislation that was introduced at westminster in february time and it really allowed for a system where there would be caretaker ministers in place for a period of up to six months and after that period if there is no new agreement on the new government formed we could be heading forfresh government formed we could be heading for fresh elections. sinn fein of courses _ heading for fresh elections. sinn fein of courses led _ heading for fresh elections. sinn fein of courses led by _ heading for fresh elections. sinn fein of courses led by team women, michelle o'neill here northern ireland and mary mcdonnell is the lead with a party of role and for many are certainly younger viewers and i will get you both to talk about this, they may not be fully aware of sinn fein�*s journey and, of course, of course, of the associations the ira and their journey to a purely political party. freya, if you want to pick up on that, just reflect on thatjourney from the earliest days to now and how significant matters. i suppose it has been —

how significant matters. i suppose it has been quite _ how significant matters. i suppose it has been quite a _ how significant matters. i suppose it has been quite a remarkable - it has been quite a remarkable trajectory and looking at some of sinn fein�*s representatives in the cancer centre some of them, i mean, gerry kelly, a format member, pat sheen was a former hunger striker who survived hunger strike. you know, this is the trajectory of sinn fein, if you like, into government, that we shall begin really seriously in 1981 at the time of the hunger strikes. i mean, that's a0 years ago. now to have sinn fein, a nationalist party, a republican party at the head of government in northern ireland it is remarkable particularly when you consider again the trajectory of northern ireland itself. northern ireland has been in existence for 101 years and this has never happened before and i think the the things that has been really noticeable in the camps is people just talking about how things have shifted. symbolic maybe but that is a evidence on this.— a evidence on this. there was a time, a evidence on this. there was a time. wasn't — a evidence on this. there was a time, wasn't there, _ a evidence on this. there was a time, wasn't there, when - a evidence on this. there was a time, wasn't there, when sinnl a evidence on this. there was a -

time, wasn't there, when sinn fein's representatives were in broadcasts, we weren't allowed to hear their actual voices, actors had to speak their words. actual voices, actors had to speak their worde— their words. yes, it is an incredible _ their words. yes, it is an | incredible transformation their words. yes, it is an - incredible transformation that we have seen — incredible transformation that we have seen from sinn fein over the years— have seen from sinn fein over the years from — have seen from sinn fein over the years from the peace settlement in 1998~ _ years from the peace settlement in 1998. they have been decommissioning weapons _ 1998. they have been decommissioning weapons from the provisional ira are now sinn— weapons from the provisional ira are now sinn fein is as a political party— now sinn fein is as a political party pursuing completely peaceful means _ party pursuing completely peaceful means and has said that the ira, provisional— means and has said that the ira, provisional ira has left the stage so, you _ provisional ira has left the stage so, you know, it is really... it is now_ so, you know, it is really... it is now a _ so, you know, it is really... it is now a party— so, you know, it is really... it is now a party wedded to the peace process, — now a party wedded to the peace process, to power—sharing and pursuing — process, to power—sharing and pursuing ambitions for a united ireland — pursuing ambitions for a united ireland through entirely peaceful means — ireland through entirely peaceful means i — ireland through entirely peaceful means. ., ., , , . ., i. means. i would appreciate if you could both _ means. i would appreciate if you could both stay _ means. i would appreciate if you could both stay with _ means. i would appreciate if you could both stay with me - means. i would appreciate if you could both stay with me just - means. i would appreciate if you could both stay with me just for| means. i would appreciate if you | could both stay with me just for a few minutes. i want to bring in our political editor chris mason. let's speak now with our political correspondent chris mason. a very big moment for politics in a

very big moment. and ijust wonder how the government in westminster is going to respond to this is a lot external to the store in the power—sharing assembly at stormont. hello to you. this is a profound and symbolic moment there is no doubt about that because for so long for much of the last decade the conversation around the stitching that holds together our family in the united kingdom has been focused on the question of scotland and that remains a live question and get with this result even if any significant move could beef, if it ever happens, several years away, this is evidence of the stitching beginning to fray as far as northern ireland's feature in the united kingdom is concerned. that is why this is profound and thatis that is why this is profound and that is why this is significant in the medium to long term but then there is the shorter term and the status quo can be quite sticky here as you have just been discussing, not least because of that change in the lower back in february which now gives a six month window before any potential formulation of a northern

ireland devolved government and i give some time for reflection and for the democratic unionist party to decide what it wants to do and crucially as well ligament at westminster to decide if it does anything as far as the northern ireland protocol is concerned, but arrangement it is come to is part of the brexit agreement that keeps northern ireland closer to than the rest of the uk which the dup find very, very comfortable. what will happen in the immediate short term and i think we will hear in the next couple of hours from the northern ireland secretary brandon lewis. i think she will say he will start calling on the northern ireland party leaders to a skin pouch —— erskine house his new hq in belfast to have talks about the future and i think come the queen's speech on tuesday when we hear the government's legislative programme for the next 12 months ago we will hear language about willingness if necessary for the government in westminster to legislate and have a new law and on the question of the

protocol but they will pick their language very carefully and why will they do that? because, as one source put it to me this evening, they have four dimensional diplomatic chess to play here. they want to try and resolve the impasse in northern ireland while maintaining a diplomatic open relationship with the european union and if they were to act in a rash way that might not help with their conversations with puzzles and ultimately it would be a deal with fossils and something both sides could live with which will mark some sort of future arrangement which might be different from the protocol if that is where we get to. the short—term politics is quite sticky and the status quo is quite sticky and the status quo is quite sticky and the status quo is quite sticky and no likelihood a continuation of the period in northern ireland where there isn't full devolved government puts on and profound government in the medium to longer term is about what that means the uk's future. high certainly any negotiations from here on out are going to acquire assessment

delicacy. i spoke to the northern ireland secretaryjuliette lewis a little earlier he said to me that the government had to look to the eu for some compromise and do you think there is any room for compromise on that site? tradition suggest that in conversations either within the european union involving its member states or between european union and third countries as they like to describe nonmembers there is always potential room for compromise and there is also room for things to be dragged out and compromise to be each set of existing arrangement for additional compromises on a clean aa piece of paper are arrived upon sol think that conversation will continue and i think the government at westminster has long been aware of the likelihood of this is an outcome because sinn fein were topping so many opinion polls in the countdown to the election in the next couple of days —— in the last

couple of days. and the prospect that the democratic unionists were still not be happy with the protocol in the same way they were before the election. the government will seek to try and find some sort of resolution that might allow the full devolved government. there are as you have been discussing through the day conversations which happen privately and publicly northern ireland and beyond which 150 existing dissolved infrastructure set out in the good friday agreement has run its course —— which wonder if the existing devolved infrastructure. i come back to the first point i made which is but right at the heart of westminster government borisjohnson who titles himself as the minister for the union as well as the prime minister, so keen is he to ensure the maintenance of the united kingdom in both scotland and northern ireland as well as wales, there will be big and profound questions for him to vessel with. plenty of those were on

the table are ready before the selections. the selections magnify them though, no doubt. this mat before the selections.— them though, no doubt. this mat before the selections. chris mason there. before the selections. chris mason there- you're _ before the selections. chris mason there. you're watching _ before the selections. chris mason there. you're watching bbc- before the selections. chris mason there. you're watching bbc news l before the selections. chris mason | there. you're watching bbc news in there. you're watching bbc news in the uk and around the world as we bring you this news from northern ireland that the nationalist party sinn fein that wanted to see a united ireland has reached a total of 27 seats in the general assembly elections which means no other party can overtake the number now and it means sinn fein has become the largest party in northern ireland and it is the first time ever that a nationalist party has won the most seats in the assembly and it means the democratic unionist party which last assembly election was the biggest party is now in second place in terms of the number of seats it has and it means that michelle o'neill, sinn fein's leader in northern ireland could become first minister but under the power—sharing

arrangements here in northern ireland that will only happen if the dup agrees to become deputy first minister. i will have more conversations about this with my guests are just a couple of minutes but let's cross now to my colleague in london at the touch screen. let's cross to my colleague lewis goodall in london who is at the touch—screen. lewis. we can take a moment to remind ourselves how this historic moment has come to pass. a long time in northern ireland history political nationalism was either despised from also be contained within the political system. we now we're on the verge of theoretically would be possible that not only has sinn fein top the national started up the pole, notjust a nationalist party that sinn fein are notjust a nationalist politician but a sinn fein politician would be nominated to become first minister of northern ireland you can see that is how they've done it. the and south to them, but the mood of the top. they cannot numerically be called up now. as you can see from this, despite

the fact it is clearly a success you will notice on them differently. sinn fein haven't actually gone up in total number of seats compared to 2017 and are not going to actually either. two seats left of remaining we expect to go to the sdlp and are not going to actually either. two seats left of remaining we expect to go to the sdlp ndp reflexively so we expect the dup to end on 25, two down in the end and then we will have the sdlp on eight so why is it, then, that this is such a great success? clearly it is a moment of great symbolic success but the reason is that you can see here that the dup down the and that is because we can see here in terms of the percentage of the vote, vote in first preferences as they are down 7% overall and that has splintered between other unionist party so it is mainly gone, for example, to the tv and some of it has gone to the alliance party, the nonsectarian, nonaligned party that is the other big win of the selection and it means that 7% being distributed around me is the dup. not so much sinn fein has done especially well,

the dup has slipped back so effectively what you have a situation where the dup as a result of the executive now has to face deputy first minister rather than first minister as they have a situation where you have this acerbic result. let's have a look and show you how they did it. as i say, fermanagh and south to bone. no actual change here, sinn fein stronghold in northern ireland around enniskillen. three seats, one seat for the dup. 0ne around enniskillen. three seats, one seat for the dup. one seat tojuve. wejust seat for the dup. one seat tojuve. we just expecting the other remaining result from foyle which we expect to go to the su, sdlp and dup respectively so the question now is what happens next. although we have got this historic result nothing will change not in the sense will have a first minister and deputy first minister agreed by both parties and that could take six

months and so many questions now remain about how the different governments in dublin and in london are going to deal with this. remember, we often think there is a nun relationship between sinn fein and british conservative party —— antagonistic relationship. there is antagonistic relationship. there is a long history of antagonism in the public as well between fianna fail and fine gael and sinn fein. remember, sinn fein came first in the republic collection and it was only a grand coalition between the old historic rivals the fianna fail and fine gael look cut them out. what happens if you do end up with a first minister sinn fein in northern ireland and in the tea shop in dublin? do you have got another border called. —— taoiseach in dublin, border poll. we should

mention we have got the alliance here as a mention before and this is really historic as well because normally we know anyone who knows anything about history of northern ireland knows that the two blocks of northern irish politics. it is unionism and that is nationalism and never the twain shall meet and third block emerging because we have got the alliance party in the fifth before this clearly who thinks the fifth before this clearly hoovering support in places like belfast and in towns and cities report support for unionists and nationalists as well, nonaligned nonsectarian party who have effectively got three blocks now within the assembly should it meeting in stormont, three blocks with a northern irish politics in the future notjust of the assembly and ministerial resignations and how they are bandied about and divvied up but the future of the constitutional status of northern ireland itself if there is going to be a border poll and what would happen in the border poll and all the decisions to be made the alliance is going to have to be full stomach front and centre in the way it hasn't been before and it has

just been sinn fein and dup keeping the show on the road at all, very often instalment, not on the road! —— or very often instalment. 0ne —— or very often instalment. one other thing to note is talking about those blocks it is really interesting to talk about with the dup on 21% and the tv down there on 8% on someone if you add up the unionist block other than nationalists have got a big victory here, you are together all the various unionist forces they still have just about a plurality and as i say a splintering of the vote means it doesn't translate to who comes first. big, big questions. it is a historic moment and lots of questions will need to be answered in the weeks, months and years to come and it is a big moment in the 101 year history of northern ireland. absolutely love this. many questions to be answered in the weeks and months ahead and lewis is absolutely vital that vote for the cross community alliance party is

hugely significant as one of my guests earlier said. no longer two tribes here, notjust green and orange but the centre ground as well just looking back to last elections in 2017 reliance party won eight seats in this time 2017 so more than doubling the number of seats and they have won a huge victory and certainly one of the big stories of this election as well. let me just bringing this tweet from the first minister of scotland, nicola sturgeon, who was congratulating sinn fein's leadership. she said many congratulations to michelle o'neill which is sinn fein's leader northern ireland and mary lou mcdonald, sinn fein's leader overall, an equally historic result sinn fein. i wish michelle and her colleagues and all northern ireland's elected representatives the very best for what comes next and hope to see the northern ireland government functioning again soon. that is the message from nicola sturgeon, first minister of

scotland, very interesting to get that tweet from her and the conservative party chairman 0liver dowden was commenting recently on these elections and asked about the question of a referendum on irish unity and he said that the government was confident it would make a very strong case for northern ireland remaining within the uk but he did not think that was going to be a question being asked of anyone any time soon. he said there would have to be a sustained majority in favour of such a vote happening but of course if the government was going to allow some point in the future that to happen then that will raise the question, of course, of an independence referendum in scotland and no doubt nicola sturgeon would be among the first to talk about that. here in belfast we still have the northern editor of the irish times and somebody from belfast live and i'm joined times and somebody from belfast live and i'mjoined again times and somebody from belfast live and i'm joined again by professor john thom, professor of hashish in irish politics at

liverpool university. a continuing just in the nicola sturgeon treat, john. you can obviously see what she is thinking about that. yes john. you can obviously see what she is thinking about that.— is thinking about that. yes you can enable set alarm _ is thinking about that. yes you can enable set alarm bells _ is thinking about that. yes you can enable set alarm bells across - is thinking about that. yes you can enable set alarm bells across the l enable set alarm bells across the british government and clearly nicola sturgeon is playing the nationalist card there are still seeking a second referendum on scottish independence and it is quite clear that sinn fein will push other to what degree we don't know but it is part of sinn fein's core business to push for a border poll for a referendum on irish unification even though she said there is very little chance of the secretary of state for northern ireland introducing such a referendum any time soon. just for all viewersjoining us in taking on board this newsjust all viewersjoining us in taking on board this news just put into context this win as lewis got over saying there sinn fein in terms of the number of seats there is nothing dramatic there in terms of this number of seats that they wouldn't last time. but because of the way

the vote has gone this time with unionists splitting their votes and of course levi's of alliance as well it means they are in a position to nominate the first minister, so how is that? it nominate the first minister, so how is that? , , , .., is that? it is hugely significant and lots of _ is that? it is hugely significant and lots of been _ is that? it is hugely significant and lots of been bandied - is that? it is hugely significant| and lots of been bandied about is that? it is hugely significant - and lots of been bandied about but there _ and lots of been bandied about but there a _ and lots of been bandied about but there a few days including things like historic, seismic and acutely significant — like historic, seismic and acutely significant and it really is because northem— significant and it really is because northern ireland is 101 years old and did — northern ireland is 101 years old and did not 101 years there has never— and did not 101 years there has never been a nationalist in the top position _ never been a nationalist in the top position. we have had as a result of the good _ position. we have had as a result of the good friday agreement a joint office _ the good friday agreement a joint office and — the good friday agreement a joint office and did not 101 years there has never— office and did not 101 years there has never been a nationalist in the top position. we have had as a resutt— top position. we have had as a result of— top position. we have had as a result of the good friday agreement a joint _ result of the good friday agreement a joint office in mandatory coalition— a joint office in mandatory coalition for have seen sinn fein held _ coalition for have seen sinn fein held its— coalition for have seen sinn fein held its 27 — coalition for have seen sinn fein held its 27 seats in the dup who had previously _ held its 27 seats in the dup who had previously been 24 but there was also in _ previously been 24 but there was also in terms of first preference votes _ also in terms of first preference votes sinn — also in terms of first preference votes sinn fein polls 250,001st preference votes compared to about 184,000 _ preference votes compared to about

184,000 from the dup so clear blue water— 184,000 from the dup so clear blue water between the parties there and ithink— water between the parties there and i think it _ water between the parties there and i think it is _ water between the parties there and i think it is impossible to overstate the significance of this shift _ overstate the significance of this shift by— overstate the significance of this shift. by stating in terms of the northern— shift. by stating in terms of the northern ireland power—sharing arrangement it is purely symbolic and that— arrangement it is purely symbolic and that is— arrangement it is purely symbolic and that is the joint office of the deputy— and that is the joint office of the deputy first minister and that is the one — deputy first minister and that is the one that signals a fundamental shift from — the one that signals a fundamental shift from what was said to give a unionist — shift from what was said to give a unionist state for unionist people and effectively now there is a nationalist party and an awful lot of nationalist voters behind them in that prime — of nationalist voters behind them in that prime position. the of nationalist voters behind them in that prime position.— that prime position. the dup has thus farthis— that prime position. the dup has thus far this campaign _ that prime position. the dup has thus far this campaign avoided i thus far this campaign avoided answering the question will you nominate the position of deputy first minister if you end up in second position i in terms of the number of seats we now know that is the case. do you think they can avoid answering that question much longer? i

avoid answering that question much loner? , .., avoid answering that question much loner? , ., ~ longer? i definitely can and i think it is untenable _ longer? i definitely can and i think it is untenable to _ longer? i definitely can and i think it is untenable to continue - longer? i definitely can and i think it is untenable to continue with - it is untenable to continue with that position and we know the outcome of the election and the argument was put forward by dup leader sirjeffrey donaldson as well as the ulster unionist party leader doug beattie during the campaign was that they didn't want to, i suppose, sell themselves short and they wanted to say that they were willing to have the ambition of becoming the largest party but now we know the lay of the land following the election there really will be a period of time where this question can be put off but at the moment the dup was saying or not we enter the power—sharing arrangements and will not form a new power—sharing government with sinn fein until it gets some source of concessions on the post—brexit northern ireland fitted on stop it says it wants to see the uk government and european union come to some sort of arrangement to make changes to the protocol to get rid of what it describes as the irish sea trade border and until that time happens on the dup says it will not re—enter

the executive is the question of the dup sharing power with sinn fein in the deputy first minister position won't come up for now. professor, we know that unionism _ won't come up for now. professor, we know that unionism and _ won't come up for now. professor, we know that unionism and i _ won't come up for now. professor, we know that unionism and i am - won't come up for now. professor, we know that unionism and i am talking l know that unionism and i am talking especially i guess about the democratic unionist party feel squeezed by this win for sinn fein in terms of seats and there is also perhaps a breakdown in trust with the government in westminster and that has certainly been expressed to me by members of the dup over the last 2a hours or so. how anxious you think unionism feels right now because the question of the united ireland, of course, has kept cropping up as a post—united kingdom. cropping up as a post-united kinudom. ., , cropping up as a post-united kingdom-— kingdom. unionist you feel bewildered _ kingdom. unionist you feel bewildered by _ kingdom. unionist you feel bewildered by what - kingdom. unionist you feel bewildered by what is - kingdom. unionist you feel - bewildered by what is happening kingdom. unionist you feel _ bewildered by what is happening they are struggling to come to terms with sinn fein being the largest outline. you've got to remember that sinn fein was the pariah party whose words could not be broadcast on tv

or radio. and then it has become the largest party. that doesn't mean then united ireland is on the corner by any means and it is by some days, quiz a symbolic victory but it is a victory that matters and shows unionism in political decline in those days of unionist northern ireland are over. whether takes as long term i think is open to question and sinn fein cannot get a border poll on and the irish union. sinn fein... if they come south of the body sinn fein. .. if they come south of the bod j , ., sinn fein. .. if they come south of the bodj , ., sinn fein. .. if they come south of the odj, , sinn fein. .. if they come south of the odj, , ., the body you can see the momentum buildin: for the body you can see the momentum building for such _ the body you can see the momentum building for such a _ the body you can see the momentum building for such a referendum - the body you can see the momentum building for such a referendum on - building for such a referendum on unity at some point in the not—too—distant unity at some point in the not—too—dista nt future. unity at some point in the not-too-distant future. because it was the lead _ not-too-distant future. because it was the lead at _ not-too-distant future. because it was the lead at the _ not-too-distant future. because it was the lead at the dup _ not-too-distant future. because it was the lead at the dup sir - not-too-distant future. because it was the lead at the dup sirjeffrey donaldson who throughout this campaign was the one talking about a border poll on a united ireland in the context of saying to voters vote for those of i shall get a sinn fein first minister and the ultimate outcome of that will be a border poll and sinn fein that he didn't

mention much during the election campaign but do you think actually dup and unionism is going to be best served is of a collaboration going on that as may be best served by going back into the executive that that will do more to preserve northern ireland's position within the united kingdom? yes. northern ireland's position within the united kingdom?— northern ireland's position within the united kingdom? yes, there are stron: the united kingdom? yes, there are strong arguments _ the united kingdom? yes, there are strong arguments being _ the united kingdom? yes, there are strong arguments being made - the united kingdom? yes, there are| strong arguments being made within the dup. it might be better to go back into the executive rather than michelle o'neill waiting at the altar is sinn fein's northern leader. because dup has this veto and if the dup says no we're not going to nominate for deputy first minister to devolve power scaling is potentially off in perpetuity and the whole status of the good friday institutions assess here but there are many takers for direct whence missed a rule of northern ireland which may not ditch my debit westminster rule may not benefit the dup at all. —— direct westminster rule. it is a difficult decision of

ajeffrey donaldson rule. it is a difficult decision of a jeffrey donaldson as to what to do. b. a jeffrey donaldson as to what to do. �* ~' ., a jeffrey donaldson as to what to do.�* ~' ., .,. a jeffrey donaldson as to what to do. �* ., , , do. a lock to watch very very closely in — do. a lock to watch very very closely in the _ do. a lock to watch very very closely in the coming - do. a lock to watch very very closely in the coming days. | do. a lock to watch very very - closely in the coming days. faye mcclements from the irish times, dublin —based newspaper. let'sjust talk a little bit more about how the government in dublin and that you are going to be actors. clearly westminster will want the executive back up and functioning. —— are going to react to this. the irish government has made clear they want the executive back—up and functioning. need to get back in and get the government working again. they dup's opposition to the northern ireland vertical is a big part of this not that needs to be untangled, the irish ministerfor foreign affairs warning he doesn't see a solution to this anytime but also signalling they do think there

is something that can be