{"id":1551,"date":"2024-02-05T01:31:23","date_gmt":"2024-02-05T01:31:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/rishi-sunak-hails-special-opportunity-as-he-starts-northern-ireland-visit\/"},"modified":"2024-02-05T01:31:23","modified_gmt":"2024-02-05T01:31:23","slug":"rishi-sunak-hails-special-opportunity-as-he-starts-northern-ireland-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/rishi-sunak-hails-special-opportunity-as-he-starts-northern-ireland-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"Rishi Sunak hails ‘special opportunity’ as he starts Northern Ireland visit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rishi Sunak hails ‘special opportunity’ as he starts Northern Ireland visit<\/p>\n

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By Jake Wood<\/div>\n
BBC News NI<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The prime minister has hailed a “special opportunity” for Northern Ireland as he began a visit marking the return of power-sharing government. <\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Rishi Sunak said Northern Ireland politicians can now “focus on delivery for families and businesses”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Devolved government returned in Northern Ireland for the first time in two years on Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Mr Sunak is due to attend Stormont on Monday, as is Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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He will meet ministers including First Minister Michelle O’Neill, who made history by becoming the first nationalist to hold the role, and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Power sharing returned after the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) ended its boycott over post-Brexit trade rules.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The DUP agreed to re-enter the institutions after a deal was struck with Mr Sunak’s government, which included the passing of new legislation at Westminster.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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‘Committed to making it work’<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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This is the prime minister’s seventh visit to Northern Ireland since he took office, but it’s the first time Northern Ireland has had a fully functioning government in that time. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Speaking on Sunday night when visiting volunteers and crew at the Air Ambulance charity, Mr Sunak said the restoration of devolved government was “a fantastic cause for optimism”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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“Everyone has worked really hard to bring this moment about, everyone is committed to making it work,” he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Mission accomplished – with power sharing back in action, even the prime minister is in town to mark the occasion. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Given the government’s long-running efforts to get a deal with the DUP over the line, Rishi Sunak has reasons to be cheerful. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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But while he will pose for pictures with the parties tomorrow, they will be keen to pose questions to him about Stormont’s future finances. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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There’s already a multi-billion pound package about to be handed over – but is the prime minister prepared to part with any more cash to keep the parties happy? <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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That’s the big question waiting for him on the hill. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The government has also pledged \u00a33.3bn for the restored Northern Ireland Executive, with much of the money aimed at stabilising public services and settling public sector pay disputes. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Speaking on Sunday, Mr Sunak said that money “represents a generous and fair settlement for Northern Ireland”. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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It is what’s needed to “ensure public finances are sustainable for the long term”, he added. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Mr Sunak will be at Stormont on Monday to meet political leaders but is also due to carry out a number of community engagements while he is Northern Ireland. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The prime minister has often said that getting Stormont up and running was a key priority for his government.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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His government renegotiated the Northern Ireland Protocol to the Windsor Framework in 2023, but it was not enough to persuade the DUP to return to Stormont.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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