NORTHERN Ireland is facing another political crisis after Sinn Fein said the talks process aimed at restoring devolution had run its course.

The republican party will not be nominating a deputy first minister today, its leader at Stormont Michelle O’Neill has said.

“We have come to the end of the road," O’Neill said yesterday.

If nominations are not received for a Stormont first minister and deputy first minister by 4pm today, Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire is obliged to intervene.

Fresh elections or direct rule from Westminster could be imposed within a reasonable period.

However, President Gerry Adams said he believed the conditions to go back into power-sharing would be achieved in the time ahead.

Power-sharing collapsed in January after a row over a botched green energy scheme that is predicted to cost the taxpayer up to half a billion pounds.

Sinn Fein has said it will not share power with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster as first minister until a public inquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme is concluded.

At the last Assembly election earlier this month Sinn Fein came within one seat of becoming the biggest party at Stormont behind the DUP.

Republicans have also been seeking movement on issues like an Irish language act giving the tongue official status in Northern Ireland, a hugely symbolic measure but deeply problematic for some unionists.

They also want to see progress on legacy funding for Northern Ireland conflict victims who have been waiting up to 45 years for answers over how their loved ones died.

Foster said sufficient progress was not achieved in the time available to form a new executive. “Negotiations will only ever be successful when parties are prepared to be flexible in order to secure outcomes," she said.

“To date there was little to suggest that Sinn Fein want to secure agreement.”