Gerry Adams: Likely no Stormont power-sharing deal by Monday

The introduction of same sex marriage in the North is opposed by the DUP – the party led by Arlene Foster, whose MPs have just entered into an agreement with the Conservative Party to support Teresa May’s badly afflicted government.

Earlier in June 2017, in relation to the case of a 15-year-old girl who had travelled to England for treatment, the Supreme Court in London ruled that women in Northern Ireland were not entitled to free abortion treatment on the NHS.

But political deadlines tend to be more malleable than journalistic ones, hence the announcement by the British government that the talks, at Stormont Castle, will be extended until Monday, July 3.

Sinn Fein should stop stalling on re-establishing the NI Executive over Irish language provision and “look at the bigger picture” of providing essential services, the DUP has said.

One of the main sticking points is over Sinn Fein’s call for an act officially protecting the Irish language. Having to raise urgent funds means that women are forced to disclose their decision, because of their need to raise money.

“The DUP Dinosaurs are denying us equality and our human rights”, she added, declining to give her surname.

Mr Poots indicated talks were not running smoothly.

Sinn Féin northern leader Michelle O’Neill said people, including the thousands of LGBT activists on the streets of Belfast for Saturday’s parade, “want their rights delivered”.

Ruth Davidson has criticised the Conservatives’ UK Government partners for failing to introduce equal marriage in Northern Ireland, suggesting the policy is causing gay people to attempt suicide.

“If Ruth Davidson was really unhappy about the government being propped up by the dinosaurs in the DUP, her MPs could have done something about it”.

Sinn Fein criticised the DUP’s handling of the so-called Cash for Ash scheme which left the Northern Ireland executive facing a cost overspend of £490 million.

Following March’s snap Assembly election, the DUP no longer has the electoral strength to deploy a petition of concern in its own right.

Deadline after deadline has already passed and the clock is ticking.

Only with support from the small ultra-conservative Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), was May’s legislative programme – known as the Queen’s Speech – approved after 323 votes in favor and 309 against in the 650-seat parliament.

The Irish and British governments – who are facilitating the talks – have warned that a failure to reach an agreement would have “profound and serious” implications and limit Northern Ireland’s influence in negotiations on Britain’s exit from the European Union.