Sinn Féin's leader in Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill has said she is ready to resume negotiations on Monday with the aim of restoring devolved government in Northern Ireland after this "watershed election".
Speaking at a press conference in Derry, the Mid-Ulster MLA said her party will meet the Government on Monday, as well as the party leaders in the North. She said Sinn Féin is keen to re-enter the Stormont executive.
Michelle O'Neill says this was "a watershed election for Sinn Féin" pic.twitter.com/T4kYd6KYGm
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) June 9, 2017
"It’s important that we get back to dealing with the issues, important that we get back to discussing the way forward but again we thank the electorate for returning a strong Sinn Féin team," said Ms O'Neill.
Ms O'Neill said her party wants to give people the positive government they have voted for.
"We're ready to go. We know we can get back to power sharing. We want to lead our team into the executive. We want to get back to the principles of the Good Friday Agreement.
"We want positive government and people have asked for positive government but they've asked for government that has equality, respect and integrity at its core," she said.
Gerry Adams says Leo Varadkar "needs to stand up to the challenges as a co-equal guarantor of people's rights and of the institutions" pic.twitter.com/hUUTXnkL6X
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) June 9, 2017
Speaking at the same press conference, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said it is up to DUP leader Arlene Foster to meet his party halfway in discussions.
He said power-sharing cannot be restored until all of the outstanding issues have been resolved.
"We wish them well. They had a good election, we had a good election. We want to deliver, I'm sure Michelle and our team will deliver, [it's] up to Arlene whether she's going to deliver, we will meet her halfway but the issues have to be resolved before the institutions are put back in place," said Mr Adams.
Mr Adams also said that a referendum on Irish unity is now inevitable after the dramatic shift among Northern Ireland voters.
"One thing we can say for certainty, there is going to be a referendum on Irish unity," he said. "I can't say when, but there is going to be."
Meanwhile, DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said his party wants to see Stormont fully functioning.
Speaking on RTÉ's Six One, Mr Donaldson said the DUP is "ready go on Monday to Stormont with the other parties to form a government".
