麻豆社

The decision by the government to enter into a confidence and supply arrangement with the Democratic Unionist Party could have consequences for attempts to restart power-sharing in Northern Ireland.

Sinn Fein has said the British government's attempts to have a pact with the DUP meant it was no longer able to act as neutral broker.

John Bruton served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 1994 to 1997 and helped instigate the peace process.

He told the World at One that he hopes this agreement will make Sinn Fein keener on "getting the Institutions up and running so that issues will be sorted by Belfast, rather than by a DUP-Conservative coalition".

(Photo: Former Irish prime minister John Bruton Credit: Getty Images)