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May, Varadkar Establish New Political Talks in N. Ireland

May, Varadkar Establish New Political Talks in N. Ireland

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May, Irish Premier Leo Varadkar agree to establish new set of political talks in Northern Ireland that aim to restore power-sharing in the region.

  • Talks will involve "all the main political parties in Northern Ireland, together with the U.K. and Irish Governments,” May, Varadkar say in emailed statement
  • Statement: “the aim of these talks is quickly to re-establish to full operation the democratic institutions” -- the Northern Ireland Executive, Assembly and North-South Ministerial Council
  • Talks to start "as soon as possible after the local elections" on May 2
  • "We understand the complexity of the underlying concerns of all parties, and the need for renewed trust, mutual respect, generosity and new thinking to resolve the issues"
  • NOTE: Northern Ireland administration has been run by civil servants since Jan. 2017, when devolved assembly was suspended because of failure of Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein to reach power-sharing agreement

To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Morales in London at amorales2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at tross54@bloomberg.net, Jessica Shankleman

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