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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Stormont crisis: NI talks to continue after UUP walkout over IRA row | Stormont crisis: NI talks to continue after UUP walkout over IRA row |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Talks will continue at Stormont later in an attempt to resolve the latest political crisis. | Talks will continue at Stormont later in an attempt to resolve the latest political crisis. |
| They will take place without the Ulster Unionists, who said on Tuesday they would not take part unless the status of the Provisional IRA is resolved. | They will take place without the Ulster Unionists, who said on Tuesday they would not take part unless the status of the Provisional IRA is resolved. |
| The UUP said it would not return unless the IRA issue was first on the agenda. | The UUP said it would not return unless the IRA issue was first on the agenda. |
| DUP leader Peter Robinson said his party would continue to talk, but warned that if devolution collapsed it could be a decade before it returned. | DUP leader Peter Robinson said his party would continue to talk, but warned that if devolution collapsed it could be a decade before it returned. |
| The talks are being held to try to resolve the latest crisis, sparked by the murder of a former IRA member, Kevin McGuigan Sr, in August. | The talks are being held to try to resolve the latest crisis, sparked by the murder of a former IRA member, Kevin McGuigan Sr, in August. |
| Police have said they believe IRA members were involved in the shooting. | Police have said they believe IRA members were involved in the shooting. |
| Sinn Féin has denied this and maintains the Provisional IRA no longer exists. | Sinn Féin has denied this and maintains the Provisional IRA no longer exists. |
| 'At risk' | 'At risk' |
| The talks, that are focussing on the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement and paramilitary activity, got under way on Tuesday. | The talks, that are focussing on the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement and paramilitary activity, got under way on Tuesday. |
| UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said his party had walked out because talks on paramilitary activity could not be "lumped in with the other issues". | |
| He said if others, including the chief constable and secretary of state" say the IRA exists... why can't Sinn Fein say that?" | |
| Mr Nesbitt said it would be a big step if Sinn Féin were to make such an acknowledgement and help secure his party's commitment to the talks. | |
| Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy said the party had "fulfilled every obligation under the peace process". | |
| "We're quite clear that the IRA has left the stage," he said. | |
| "We're quite happy to look at the whole issue of armed groups. There are a lot of armed groups in society, and we're quite happy to look at what the parties can collectively do about armed groups. | |
| 'Stunt politics' | |
| "If unionism wishes to seize on an issue around the tragic killings of two men to try to upend the institutions for some electoral advantage, then there's not much we can do about that." | |
| DUP Minister Arlen Foster said the talks were not all about Mr Nesbitt. | |
| "The talks are about finding a solution to the two problems that have beset the assembly," she said. | |
| "[The UUP] reminds me of a self-indulgent child. You know what you should do with a self-indulgent child? You should not indulge them. You should get on with the business at hand. | |
| "If the Ulster Unionists aren't prepared to deal with the issues at hand and face republicans and deal with them then the Democratic Unionist Party will." | |
| Following the talks on Tuesday, the Alliance Party said the UUP were playing games and Sinn Féin said the Ulster Unionists were engaging in "stunt politics". | |
| Despite the UUP's decision, Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers said the tone of Tuesday's opening meeting was "genuinely constructive". | Despite the UUP's decision, Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers said the tone of Tuesday's opening meeting was "genuinely constructive". |
| "All participants acknowledged that it was vital to resolve the issues on the agenda," she said. | "All participants acknowledged that it was vital to resolve the issues on the agenda," she said. |
| Ms Villiers repeated her warning that Stormont's devolved political institutions are "at risk" if the talks process fails. | Ms Villiers repeated her warning that Stormont's devolved political institutions are "at risk" if the talks process fails. |
| "Northern Ireland's political leaders have achieved great things working together in the past," she added. | "Northern Ireland's political leaders have achieved great things working together in the past," she added. |
| "I hope this process will deliver real progress on implementing the Stormont House Agreement and dealing with issues around paramilitaries, to help build a brighter more secure future for Northern Ireland." | "I hope this process will deliver real progress on implementing the Stormont House Agreement and dealing with issues around paramilitaries, to help build a brighter more secure future for Northern Ireland." |
| BBC News NI political correspondent Stephen Walker said: "On Wednesday, the talks will focus on the Stormont House Agreement that was struck in December but which ran into trouble three months later, when Sinn Féin withdrew its support over welfare reform. | BBC News NI political correspondent Stephen Walker said: "On Wednesday, the talks will focus on the Stormont House Agreement that was struck in December but which ran into trouble three months later, when Sinn Féin withdrew its support over welfare reform. |
| "The parties will not discuss the legacy of the Troubles during Wednesday's meetings. That issue is due to be discussed on Thursday." | "The parties will not discuss the legacy of the Troubles during Wednesday's meetings. That issue is due to be discussed on Thursday." |