Stormont election: Further delay suggested as NI Protocol talks continue

Chris Heaton-Harris has indicated that he will delay a decision on a Stormont election to allow UK-EU talks on the Northern Ireland Protocol to proceed.

The latest deadline for the formation of a new Northern Ireland Executive is due to pass at midnight on Thursday.

Mr Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland secretary, will then have a period of 12 weeks in which to hold an election.

But on Thursday he said the talks between the UK and the EU about the protocol should be given time.

He was speaking after a meeting with Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Micheál Martin in Dublin.

The latest that an assembly poll can be held is 13 April, meaning the government would need to call the election no later than early March.

"There are important talks taking place in Brussels between the UK government and the European Union and if we can solve one problem we might be able to solve another," said Mr Heaton-Harris.

"So I think it's worth me taking the time to consider my options."

Mr Heaton-Harris could choose to extend the deadline and delay an election, something he did back in November.

Micheál Martin (left) and Chris Heaton-Harris were among the senior politicians at the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference

Mr Martin said it "makes sense to be patient" as the talks between the UK and the EU continue.

The men met at the latest session of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC).

While the gathering usually deals with economic cooperation, political stability and security, developments on the Northern Ireland Protocol talks between London and Brussels were high on the agenda.

The stalemate at Stormont and efforts to restore devolution also featured.

There has been no functioning devolved government at Stormont since February 2022 after the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) withdrew from the institutions in protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The party has continued its boycott at Stormont and is demanding fundamental change to the protocol before it considers a return to the assembly.

This protocol was designed to ensure free trade could continue across the Irish land border.

But it has led to new checks on some goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which unionists are opposed to.

The DUP is refusing to re-enter power-sharing because of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

What is the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference?

The BIIGC was established as part of the Good Friday Agreement to promote bilateral cooperation between the British and Irish governments.

It deals with issues which are not devolved to Stormont.

It did not meet for 11 years between 2007 and 2018 but since reconvening has met twice a year.

The UK government is represented by the Northern Ireland secretary and the Irish's foreign minister represents the Republic's government.

Additional ministers from both administrations also attend.