Secretary of State James Brokenshire has
cancelled a trip to Washington to focus on
talks aimed at restoring the power-sharing
institutions.
Mr Brokenshire had been scheduled to meet
President Donald Trump, as part of the
annual St Patrick's Day visit.
However he has decided to pull out of the
trip to concentrate on helping Northern
Ireland's political parties strike a deal.
If no agreement is reached by 27 March,
another election could be called.
A senior UK government source told Press
Association journalists that Mr Brokenshire
had been due to fly to Washington on
Wednesday.
However, he has decided that the ongoing
talks at Stormont are at a "critical stage"
and that is where his focus must be.
"He is just focused on getting the right result
and getting an agreement by the 27th. The
deadline is looming. He will have no other
option by law but to call another election if
there is no agreement by then," the source
said.
Mr Brokenshire recently met the acting US
ambassador to the UK, Lew Lukens, to
discuss the situation at Stormont.
"The Secretary of State is encouraged by
how seriously the Americans are taking this.
He would love to go to Washington.
Washington has always helped Northern
Ireland. But now is not the right time and
time is short," the source added.
Talks are due to resume again on Monday, in
a bid to salvage power-sharing.
They have just over a fortnight to come to
an agreement or there could be another
snap election.
The 2 March election saw an end to the
unionist majority at Stormont.
Sinn Féin moved within one seat of the DUP,
eroding what had been a ten seat
advantage.
Last week in a letter to all MPs Mr
Brokenshire set out the consequences of the
DUP and Sinn Féin failing to strike a deal.
"If no agreement is reached in the short
window following the election, there would
be a number of significant consequences.
"There would be no Executive, no real
budget, no Programme for Government and
risks to public services. Ultimately we would
also be facing a second election with
ongoing disruption and uncertainty for
businesses and the people of Northern
Ireland that would bring," he said in his
letter.
However Mr Brokenshire added that he was
"not contemplating any other outcome but a
resumption of devolved government as soon
as possible".
Snap