Political rivals of the DUP are adamant the UK Government can no longer cast itself as a neutral facilitator in the process, given Theresa May's intent to form a minority government with the help of a confidence-and-supply deal with the unionist party.
The government statement said both leaders "agreed that of immediate concern were efforts to establish an executive as soon as possible, with exploratory discussions with the Northern Ireland parties to take place tomorrow".
"They discussed the outcome of the United Kingdom general election and the (British) prime minister outlined the proposed supply and confidence arrangement between her party and the DUP", a spokesman for the Irish government said.
Kenny also "noted the absence of any nationalist voice in Westminster", after Northern Ireland's Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) lost its three seats in Thursday's election.
Initially Republican party Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party refused to play along with the new arrangement, helping spark its collapse in 2002.
"We are very pleased with the way in which people have reacted to the positive message of the campaign, it was about the Union, the importance of the Union, and unionists have really come out in their numbers", she said.
Charlie Flanagan said he has raised the matter with Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire. It provides the basis for Northern Ireland's continued political progress and as the Government we remain firmly committed to this.
Irish PM expresses concern over May's proposed DUP deal
Enda Kenny has warned the British Prime Minister that nothing should happen to put the Good Friday Agreement at risk. The party is now led by Arlene Foster , a lawyer whose father was shot in an IRA gun attack when she was a child .
Irish PM designate Leo Varadkar said on Monday that Theresa May's failure to win a majority in last week's election might result in a softer Brexit, as it leaves her more dependent on lawmakers who would favour such a deal.
Currently, it is the largest party in Northern Ireland and the fifth biggest party in the House of Commons following last night's (June 8) vote. Power-sharing talks between the two major parties broke down early this year, with the deadline for an agreement requiring extension to save it.
The DUP now hold ten seats at Westminster, eight seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and one solitary seat in the European Parliament.
The party's leader Arlene Foster is due to meet the Prime Minister on Tuesday as the two sides work on finalising an agreement.
On Saturday there was widespread concern over the way abortion might be used as a bargaining chip in any DUP deal after former Northern Ireland secretary and current Conservative MP Owen Paterson suggested the issue of abortion time limits could be debated in parliament.
"If they do not, the power to make decisions passes to others".
Comments