6 ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 7 . ▁ ▁Res p ons ibility ▁and ▁power ▁for ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁transferred ▁to ▁James ▁Bro kens hire ▁in ▁his ▁capacity ▁as ▁Secretary ▁of ▁State ▁for ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁on ▁ 1 6 ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 7 . ▁Bro kens hire ▁made ▁an ▁announ cement ▁after ▁the ▁ 7 ▁day ▁dead line ▁passed ▁and ▁officially ▁called ▁a ▁snap ▁election ▁for ▁ 2 ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 7 . ▁The ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁Assembly ▁was ▁dissol ved ▁on ▁ 2 6 ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 7 . ▁ ▁Re action ▁After ▁Bro kens hire ' s ▁announ cement , ▁British ▁Prime ▁Minister ▁Ther esa ▁May ▁and ▁Irish ▁T ao ise ach ▁End a ▁Ken ny ▁discussed ▁the ▁situation ▁by ▁tele phone . ▁ ▁The ▁Prime ▁Minister ▁and ▁the ▁T ao ise ach ▁" re pe ated ▁their ▁desire ▁to ▁see ▁the ▁institutions ▁established ▁under ▁the ▁Good ▁Friday ▁Ag re ement ▁operating ▁effectively " ▁and ▁also ▁" ex pressed ▁hope ▁that ▁the ▁election ▁campaign ▁would ▁be ▁respect ful ". ▁ ▁The ▁US ▁Government ▁called ▁on ▁all ▁political ▁parties ▁to ▁" find ▁a ▁way ▁forward " ▁to ▁the ▁res umption ▁of ▁" stable ▁de vol ved ▁govern ance ". ▁ ▁After ▁the ▁election ▁was ▁called , ▁F oster ▁said ▁the ▁elect or ate ▁did ▁not ▁" w ant , ▁or ▁need ▁an ▁election ". ▁She ▁also ▁said ▁that ▁" they ▁have ▁forced ▁an ▁election ▁that ▁ris ks ▁Northern ▁Ireland ' s ▁future ▁and ▁stability ▁and ▁which ▁su its