Unionist parties should commit to returning to powersharing if Sinn Fein emerges as the largest Northern Ireland party after the Stormont elections, Brandon Lewis has said.
Mr Lewis, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said he wanted to see both unionist and nationalist parties nominate for the roles of first and deputy first minister “whatever the result” in May.
Under Stormont’s powersharing arrangements, the first and deputy first ministers are chosen by each of the largest unionist and nationalist parties.
However, both the DUP and UUP have so far refused to say whether they would nominate for the deputy first minister role in the event that Sinn Fein emerged as the largest party and was entitled to the first minister position.
Mr Lewis told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “The fundamentals of the Good Friday Agreement are the institutions.
“I would like to see all parties, both from the nationalist and the unionist side, be very clear that whatever the result in May, that they will nominate.
“I think the right thing for Northern Ireland is to have the devolved authority of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Assembly back sitting as quickly as possible after May 5 so they can get to grips with the issues.”
Mr Lewis also said he was disappointed that the DUP’s Paul Givan had resigned from the first minister role as part of his party’s protest at the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The step also removed Michelle O’Neill as deputy first minister and has left Northern Ireland without a functioning Executive, although other ministers still remain in post.
Mr Lewis said: “From my point of view, I think it is disappointing that Paul Givan resigned but I do hope that we can see the DUP re-nominate a first minister and get Stormont back up and running.
This is an issue around the Northern Ireland Protocol and the DUP have made their decision based on that
“The rules around Stormont have changed. Stormont has not collapsed, obviously the first minister and deputy first minister aren’t in post.
“The other ministers are in post, the Assembly can continue, a lot of the legislation that it is working its way through can continue and complete.
“One of the reasons I said we will not have an early election is, I think, it is important from a stability point of view for people to know that they can see that legislation completed and continue.”
He added: “This is an issue around the Northern Ireland Protocol and the DUP have made their decision based on that.
“The position the DUP have taken is that until they see positive steps forward in terms of resolving the protocol issues they will not re-nominate.
“We are focused on that, the Prime Minister is focused on that, (those) are the discussions we are having with the EU.”
Sinn Fein MP John Finucane told the programme that the decision of the DUP to bring down the Executive was “reckless and irresponsible”.
