LISTEN:Sinn Fein to set out full response to powersharing talks collapse

By Press Association Reporters

Sinn Fein is expected to outline the party's next move after powersharing talks in Northern Ireland broke down.

Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster has urged the UK Government to set a budget and make policy decisions in the absence of a devolved executive at Stormont.

The talks collapsed after the parties failed to clinch agreement on touchstone issues such as treatment of the Irish language.

Sinn Fein's Northern Ireland chief Michelle O'Neill said the party had stretched itself and blamed the DUP for collapsing a process aimed at rebuilding coalition government at Stormont after a 13-month suspension.

The republican party wants a standalone piece of legislation to protect speakers - an Irish Language Act - but the DUP has long insisted it would only countenance new laws if they also incorporate other cultures, such as Ulster Scots.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mrs O'Neill said: "These issues are not going to go away.

"Myself and Mary Lou McDonald are engaged with both governments and will continue to do that and over the course of tomorrow we will set out a more fulsome response in relation to where we go from here."

Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley said "substantive progress" had been made but conceded "this phase of talks has reached a conclusion".

Mrs Foster said attempts to find a stable and sustainable resolution had been unsuccessful.

She said: "We cannot and will not be held to ransom by those who have refused to form an Executive for over 13 months."

She added there was no "current prospect" of these discussions leading to a ministerial Executive being formed.

"It is now incumbent upon Her Majesty's Government to set a budget and start making policy decisions about our schools, hospitals and infrastructure.

"Important decisions impacting on everyone in Northern Ireland have been sitting in limbo for too long."

Months of endless talks have been held since powersharing collapsed early last year in a row over the DUP's handling of a botched green energy scheme.

Since then divisions over issues including Irish language rights, same sex marriage and how to deal with the legacy of Northern Ireland's troubled past have proved insurmountable.

Mrs O'Neill said: "Sinn Fein engaged, we worked in good faith, we stretched ourselves.

"We had reached an accommodation with the leadership of the DUP.

"The DUP failed to close the deal.

"They have now collapsed this process."

Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley says decisions will have to be taken for Northern Ireland and that she will update Parliament after recess next week. Taking no questions from the press over collapsed #Stormont talks pic.twitter.com/QdjwuYqhOv

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) February 14, 2018

Mrs Foster said attempts to find a stable and sustainable resolution had been unsuccessful.

She said: "We cannot and will not be held to ransom by those who have refused to form an Executive for over 13 months."

She added there was no "current prospect" of these discussions leading to a ministerial Executive being formed.

"It is now incumbent upon Her Majesty's Government to set a budget and start making policy decisions about our schools, hospitals and infrastructure.

"Important decisions impacting on everyone in Northern Ireland have been sitting in limbo for too long."

Months of endless talks have been held since powersharing collapsed early last year in a row over the DUP's handling of a botched green energy scheme.

Since then divisions over issues including Irish language rights, same sex marriage and how to deal with the legacy of Northern Ireland's troubled past have proved insurmountable.

Mrs O'Neill said: "Sinn Fein engaged, we worked in good faith, we stretched ourselves.

"We had reached an accommodation with the leadership of the DUP.

"The DUP failed to close the deal.

"They have now collapsed this process."

.@sinnfeinireland Deputy Leader @moneillsf says she is ‘crystal clear” her party had reached accommodation with DUP on Language, marriage and legacy issues adding the DUP ‘failed to close the deal’ pic.twitter.com/TOsV97b3va

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) February 14, 2018

Meanwhile,

The leaders of the smaller parties here say they are frustrated.

Alliance Leader, Naomi Long says "it's hugely frustrating".

SDLP Leader, Colum Eastwood says after 13 months this just isn't good enough.