The UK government has ruled out any move towards joint authority over Northern Ireland involving both the London and Dublin administrations if talks in Belfast fail to restore power-sharing in the region.
In response to concerns from the Irish foreign minister, Simon Coveney, about direct rule from London being reimposed on the province, the government emphasised there would be no joint authority as an alternative to devolution.
The statement from the government suggests a possible rift between London and Dublin over what to do if the negotiations between the parties in Northern Ireland – principally the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Féin – fail to produce a compromise.
Without a deal between parties represented in the Northern Ireland assembly that would bring back power-sharing, the government said: “We will never countenance any arrangement, such as joint authority, inconsistent with the principle of consent in the [Good Friday/Belfast] agreement.”
The government said it was for the UK administration alone “to provide the certainty over delivery of public services and good governance in Northern Ireland, as part of the United Kingdom. This is consistent with our obligations under the Belfast agreement”.
The statement on Tuesday appeared to be a robust riposte to Coveney’s statement earlier in the evening that “there can be no British-only direct rule. That is the Irish government’s position”.
The British government statement said that its objective was still to ensure the return of devolved, local power-sharing government in Belfast.
Earlier on Tuesday, Gerry Adams revealed that he is putting plans in place to eventually stand down as leader of Sinn Féin.
Adams, who has been Sinn Féin president since the early 1980s, said he will give further details about retirement after the party’s annual conference – Ard Fheis – in November.
Power-sharing government has been suspended since the beginning of 2017, after the late Martin McGuinness withdrew from the post as deputy first minister of Northern Ireland.
McGuinness resigned after Arlene Foster refused to temporarily stand down from office while an inquiry was held over a controversial and costly renewable energy scheme which the DUP championed in government.
Under the rules of devolved power-sharing, if the leading representative of one section of the community resigns from office the entire administration falls.