Northern Ireland has been without a functioning elected government since power sharing between the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) and Sinn Féin collapsed in January 2017.
There have been several attempts to restore the complex agreement, but talks have repeatedly broken down.
With a fresh round of talks due to begin involving Northern Ireland’s main political parties and the UK and Irish prime ministers, here are the key events since the Stormont government collapsed.
January 2017
Martin McGuinness resigns as Northern Ireland’s deputy first minister in protest against the DUP’s handling of a bungled green energy scheme, Irish language legislation, marriage equality and other issues.
March 2017
Voters go to the polls in a snap election. Unionist parties fail to win a majority of seats for the first time. McGuinness dies a few weeks after the election. The first minister, Arlene Foster, is applauded for attending the funeral.
April 2017
The then Northern Ireland secretary, James Brokenshire, extends the deadline to restore a power-sharing government as both parties fail to reach an agreement during talks.
October 2017
Brokenshire extends the deadline for a sixth time to allow Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionists to continue discussions aimed at restoring a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.
November 2017
Brokenshire reveals plans to impose a budget for regional government departments in Northern Ireland, but insists the move does not signal a return to direct rule from London.
January 2018
Brokenshire resigns as Northern Ireland secretary for health reasons. He is replaced by Karen Bradley.
February 2018
Mary Lou McDonald, who pledged to secure and win a referendum on Irish unity, succeeds Gerry Adams as Sinn Féin leader. Michelle O’Neill, the Sinn Féin leader in Northern Ireland, is elected vice-president by delegates. A few days later, Theresa May fails to reach a deal to restore Northern Ireland power sharing.
May 2018
Jeremy Corbyn calls on May to reconvene the British-Irish intergovernmental conference, which was set up under the Good Friday agreement, to restore the power-sharing government to Northern Ireland.
September 2018
Bradley announces members of the Stormont assembly will have their pay slashed after 19 months without devolved government.
April 2019
May and the Irish taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, announce plans to establish a new round of talks involving all the main political parties in Northern Ireland, and the UK and Irish prime ministers.
