Northern Ireland could face election or Westminster rule within weeks: gov't official

Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire will decide within weeks whether there should be another snap election or direct rule over the region from Westminster, it was announced Wednesday.

Political parties in Northern Ireland have spent weeks trying to resolve differences to enable the devolved parliament in Belfast to be re-established following its collapse.

In a statement issued through the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), Brokenshire said if no executive is formed by early May, he will need to take further steps to ensure Northern Ireland has political stability.

"This is likely to mean, however undesirable, either a second election or a return to decision making from Westminster," Brokenshire said.

Under power sharing arrangements agreed as part of a peace settlement that ended three decades of troubles, the jobs of first minister and deputy first minister must go to the two largest parties, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein.

Speaking Wednesday, Brokenshire said: "The current phase of roundtable talks over the past ten days to help resolve issues will pause for Easter. Bilateral discussions between the parties and with the UK and Irish Governments will continue, in accordance with the three-stranded approach."

He said while progress has been made, there is still a lack of agreement between the parties on a small but significant number of issues.

"The restoration of devolved government remains achievable, but more time and a more focused engagement on the critical issues are required," Brokenshire added.

Another snap election would see the third election within a year for a devolved Northern Ireland assembly. Endit