The New Year messages from the North- ern Ireland Parties reflect the deep frustration arising from the absence of a working Executive and from the evident budgetary and economic pressures highlighted in the protracted Hillsborough talks between the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, and the Parties. [...] Ms Long expressed disappointment that the DUP had rejected the £3 billion deal put on the table by the UK govern- ment and reflected on the consequences of the long absence of an Executive and Assembly. [...] He was “hopeful” that the £2.5 billion financial package for Northern Ireland that had been offered by the British government at the time of the interview (later in the week a £3.3 billion deal was offered) could help smooth the way to the restoration of the Stormont Assembly and Executive. [...] The Foreign Secretary commented on the continued good relationship between the Irish and UK Governments to up- hold peace and cooperation in Northern Ireland: Thirty years ago this week the UK and Ireland signed the Downing Street Declaration, a historic agreement that set us on the path to peace. [...] The Guardian reported the results of the Opinium poll on UK attitudes to Brexit, carried out to mark the third anniver- sary of the UK leaving the EU single market and customs union.
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