Gerry Adams: Give DUP ‘wee bit of space’ over return to powersharing

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. However, the former Sinn Fein president added that if the unionist party did not agree to reforming an executive then Dublin must have “full involvement” in affairs in Northern Ireland. “The damage that has been done in relation to the institutions can be repaired if the institutions were up and running as they should be.” Mr Adams said it would be a “different matter” if the DUP refused to return to Stormont. “We have to have a full involvement by the Irish government along with the British government, unfortunately, with them seeking to fill the gap, which plainly would be the responsibility of unionists’ failure to grasp the new dispensation.” Mr Adams said he did not believe that the unionist party was refusing to return to Stormont because it did not want to support an executive with Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill as first minister. “I think Jeffrey has spoken the truth when he says that it’s not an issue for him.” The former Sinn Fein president said the progress of the powersharing institutions had been “stop-start” since they were formed.