Ulster Unionist Leader, Robin Swann MLA, has called on DUP and Sinn Fein negotiators to publish their talks documentation.

Ulster Unionist Leader, Robin Swann MLA, said:

“There’s an easy way for Sinn Fein and the DUP to solve the mystery of what they did agree or didn’t agree. Whether they called it an accommodation, a draft agreement, a heads of agreement or some other type of a deal, it’s time for both parties to publish them and publish them now.

“I certainly wouldn’t believe everything that Sinn Fein say, but today’s actions by Mary Lou McDonald provide an opportunity to get to the truth of the matter instead of playing a game of she said, she said. Arlene Foster can put this to bed by telling her negotiators, whoever they were, to publish their documentation. This is going to run and run until we get to the truth of the matter and at the minute that can only be established by both parties being honest and upfront. 

“There are many other questions remaining, such as how were Sinn Fein able to arrive at the conclusion that all that was left to nail down was the presentation of the ‘agreement’ but it would be a good start to find out what they were intending to present.

“The suggestion by Sinn Fein that there was also going to be a change to how a future Justice Minister would be appointed, gives the impression that everything was on the table.

“I find it simply unfathomable that Unionist negotiators would even contemplate agreeing for Irish to become an official language of Northern Ireland and facilitating an all-powerful Irish Language Commissioner. Only DUP negotiators can explain that. Those proposals should have been kicked into touch months ago.”