Make your mind up time for SDLP, Martin McGuinness says after meeting Irish Government minister

IT'S TIME for the SDLP to make their mind up on whether they will sit on the Northern Executive or not, Sinn Féin deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said on Wednesday after meeting with Irish Government Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan. It was the first meeting between the pair since the Dáil and Assembly elections this year.

After the meeting, Martin McGuinness said negotiations are continuing about the formation of a new Executive at Stormont and added he is hopeful that ministers can be in place next week.

“I made it clear I am hopeful that our administration will be up and running over the course of the next week with the operation of d'Hondt and the appointment of ministers,” he said.

The deputy First Minister challenged the SDLP to make its mind up on whether it intends to sit on the Executive or go into opposition.

“The SDLP now have to make a decision on what is good for the people and good for government.

“People need to get real and realise that it is make your mind up time over the next seven days.”

➤ Watch video of Martin McGuinness here.