Both governments must uphold their responsibilities if any fresh efforts to restore the power-sharing institutions are to succeed, Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey has said.

The West Belfast MLA was commenting after a cross-party meeting which took place in Stormont.

He said: “Sinn Féin is a party of dialogue and we will participate in any process which is credible and can achieve a successful outcome.

“Institutions of government need to enjoy public confidence and it is intolerable and unacceptable that we are still without an Assembly and Executive due to the DUP’s decision to renege on the draft agreement in February and collapse the political negotiations.

“The issues of rights and equality still need resolved and any new process must focus on that if it is to be successful. It must also be fully inclusive of all parties and both governments.

“There is a crucial role for both Dublin and London. Unfortunately, to date the British Government has abandoned its obligations under the Good Friday Agreement as a direct consequence of its pact with the DUP.

“However, there is a clear requirement under the Agreement for the two governments to take decisive action and determine how the obstacles to power-sharing will be explicitly removed, by what means and in what timeframe under their joint stewardship.”