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NI talks to resume amid little progress NI talks to resume amid little progress
(about 2 hours later)
Cross-party talks are due to resume at Stormont on Thursday, with few signs of the parties resolving their differences over budget and welfare reform.Cross-party talks are due to resume at Stormont on Thursday, with few signs of the parties resolving their differences over budget and welfare reform.
Some of the negotiators have said they believe Thursday's discussions could be the last before Christmas.Some of the negotiators have said they believe Thursday's discussions could be the last before Christmas.
Previously, the government had warned that if there was no deal before Christmas, there would be little chance of making progress in the new year.Previously, the government had warned that if there was no deal before Christmas, there would be little chance of making progress in the new year.
Discussions between the parties lasted until nearly 22:00 GMT on Wednesday.Discussions between the parties lasted until nearly 22:00 GMT on Wednesday.
However, there appeared to be little evidence of progress on the key financial issues.However, there appeared to be little evidence of progress on the key financial issues.
'Major problems''Major problems'
The Ulster Unionists submitted a 24-point paper looking for some more welfare reform flexibilities.The Ulster Unionists submitted a 24-point paper looking for some more welfare reform flexibilities.
But Sinn Féin apparently stuck rigidly to its own 11-point paper that essentially rejects all the proposed Westminster welfare changes.But Sinn Féin apparently stuck rigidly to its own 11-point paper that essentially rejects all the proposed Westminster welfare changes.
The Alliance Party's employment minister Stephen Farry said the parties had a "lot of work to do over the next two days".
"We do really need to seize this moment, but the parties have been focusing intensively in meetings over the past number of weeks and that has intensified over the past number of days, but this does need to be brought to a close and, indeed, a productive close," he said.
"We do have to appreciate what is at stake here and it is the future of devolution itself. If things are not got right, things are in real jeopardy."
The parties are expected to resume discussions at about 10:00 GMT on Thursday.The parties are expected to resume discussions at about 10:00 GMT on Thursday.
But some negotiators told the BBC that they privately believe the talks could be winding to a close.But some negotiators told the BBC that they privately believe the talks could be winding to a close.
They added that no deal could spell major problems for Stormont's future budgetary process and the stability of Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive.They added that no deal could spell major problems for Stormont's future budgetary process and the stability of Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive.