Alliance Leader, Lord Alderdice, commenting on today’s Strand 2 paper from the British and Irish Governments, has called for the parties to address the questions raised.
Speaking from Lancaster House, Lord Alderdice said:
“Last week, the parties batted the ball to the two Governments. Today the Governments just batted the ball back.
“This paper is just a series of questions to focus the negotiations, but already some parties are trying to bat the ball back to the Governments again.
“I would appeal to colleagues in the Talks to stop playing this game of pingpong and start giving answers to the questions.
“Some parties will find the questions more difficult to answer than others. But avoiding the questions, and passing the buck, is an irresponsible waste of negotiating time.”