Sinn Fein minister seeks legal advice after another north-south meeting cancelled over DUP boycott

By Q Radio News

Another north-south ministerial council meeting was unable to go ahead today due to a DUP boycott. 

The party's Executive Office Minister Gary Middleton was due to attend the virtual meeting.

However, Sinn Fein Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey said he "did not turn up". 

The DUP is continuing to snub the cross border meetings in protest against the Northern Ireland protocol. 

Earlier this month, party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson announced his party was immediately withdrawing from the north south political institutions but that important health based issues would be handled. 

The meeting today was supposed to be on languages. 

DUP MLA Gary Middleton was due to attend today's NSMC meeting alongside SF Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey

Minister Hargey is seeking legal advice on the reoccurring issue and says non engagement in NSMC meeting is a "serious failure" to comply with Stormont's ministerial code.

Under Stormont rules, any Northern Ireland Executive meeting with the Irish Government must involve both a nationalist and an accompanying unionist minister. If one does not show the meeting cannot proceed.

"“I consider this inaction by Minister Gary Middleton and the Executive Office to be a serious failure to comply with the law and the Ministerial Code which require Ministers to participate in meetings of the NSMC.

“Therefore I am seeking legal advice on challenging the DUP inaction through the courts.

“We must be clear that when the political institutions were restored through the New Decade, New Approach agreement last January, it was all of the institutions, not some. 

“The DUP cannot cherrypick and through inaction and obstruction hamper Government business on behalf of the public we all serve and represent".

At a press conference in Belfast, Ms Hargey said she would consult with lawyers on Monday on the legal options open to her.

“The longer this goes on it just becomes more and more unacceptable,” she said.

“We’re elected to deliver for people and the more that these meetings do not take place we’re failing to do that and I as minister who has responsibility for languages, where decisions would have been taken today, they could not be made, so therefore I’m left with no other choice than to proactively get legal advice.

“I’m serious about this, this isn’t pretending. I’m actively seeking that and I will be looking at options on next steps on Monday.”

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey

This is the second north-south ministerial council meeting cancelled this week. 

On Wednesday, SDLP Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon was due to accompany DUP Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to a NSMC but it also couldn't go ahead without Mr Poots. 

Ms Mallon called on the governments to intervene on the matter. 

People want political leaders working together to change our society for the better. The DUP boycott of North South meetings is preventing cooperation and benefits no one.

SDLP Deputy Leader @NicholaMallon has written to the British and Irish governments to intervene. pic.twitter.com/NJiwbf4OsM

— Social Democratic and Labour Party (@SDLPlive) September 30, 2021