Deal to restore devolved assembly to NI could be reached this week: Irish PM

LONDON, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The prime ministers of Britain and Ireland said in Belfast Monday they are hopeful of a deal being reached soon to reinstate the devolved government in Northern Ireland.

British Prime Minister Theresa May and the Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar spent the day in Belfast talking to political leaders amidst mounting speculation that more than a year after it collapsed, the Northern Ireland executive may soon be back at Stormont.

Varadkar went further than May, and said he was hopeful the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and pro-Republican Sinn Fein can agree on a resumption of power-sharing this week.

He said soundings from the leader of the DUP, Arlene Foster and Sinn Fein's newly elected president, Mary Lou McDonald, were "positive".

Foster commented that while there isn't a deal yet there's very good progress, while McDonald said talks had reached a decisive phase.

The two leading parties in the region hold the two leadership roles in the assembly. Under a power sharing agreement that restored peace to the once-troubled area, both have to agree to work together before normal devolved governance can be restored.

During the deadlock period of more than 400 days, civil servants have been running Northern Ireland, with a risk of direct rule from Westminster if the impasse continues.

May said Monday night she had held talks with all five political parties in Northern Ireland during the day.

She urged Northern Ireland's parties to make one final push towards an agreement to restore devolved its government.

"It is now at the point where it's time for local elected representatives to find a way to work together," May said, adding that while there are still some differences between the parties, she believed it was possible to see the basis of an agreement. Enditem