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| Theresa Villiers urges NI parties to act ahead of 'crucial talks' | Theresa Villiers urges NI parties to act ahead of 'crucial talks' |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The Northern Ireland Secretary has urged the five main Stormont parties to grasp the opportunity in "crucial round table talks" on Monday. | The Northern Ireland Secretary has urged the five main Stormont parties to grasp the opportunity in "crucial round table talks" on Monday. |
| Theresa Villiers said the two crunch issues were the continuing existence of paramilitary organisations and implementing welfare reform. | Theresa Villiers said the two crunch issues were the continuing existence of paramilitary organisations and implementing welfare reform. |
| A political crisis was sparked at Stormont by the murder of ex-IRA man Kevin McGuigan Sr last month. | |
| Mr Robinson stepped aside as first minister 10 days ago. | |
| Ms Villiers told the BBC that there was no more money for welfare reform. | |
| "We have already provided, through the Stormont House Agreement, an offer of an extra £2bn in additional spending power," she said. | "We have already provided, through the Stormont House Agreement, an offer of an extra £2bn in additional spending power," she said. |
| "That is very substantial at a time of unprecedented pressure on public finances. | "That is very substantial at a time of unprecedented pressure on public finances. |
| "We are prepared to negotiate, but not on extra money for welfare." | "We are prepared to negotiate, but not on extra money for welfare." |
| Meanwhile, DUP leader Peter Robinson has been discharged from hospital. | Meanwhile, DUP leader Peter Robinson has been discharged from hospital. |
| Mr Robinson, 66, was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital on Saturday after he suffered a reaction to medicine prescribed following his heart attack in May. | Mr Robinson, 66, was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital on Saturday after he suffered a reaction to medicine prescribed following his heart attack in May. |
| He was discharged on Sunday and is due to brief his party colleagues ahead of the talks. | He was discharged on Sunday and is due to brief his party colleagues ahead of the talks. |
| In an interview with BBC Radio Ulster ahead of Monday's talks, Ms Villiers said she felt "a sense of hope" that matters could be resolved, but added that it was "going to be very difficult to get a resolution". | In an interview with BBC Radio Ulster ahead of Monday's talks, Ms Villiers said she felt "a sense of hope" that matters could be resolved, but added that it was "going to be very difficult to get a resolution". |
| Both the paramilitary and financial issues were "crucial", she said. | Both the paramilitary and financial issues were "crucial", she said. |
| "You can't have a functioning government without a workable budget and you can't have a functioning government if relationships between partners have broken down completely over this paramilitary problem," she said. | "You can't have a functioning government without a workable budget and you can't have a functioning government if relationships between partners have broken down completely over this paramilitary problem," she said. |
| The story of Stormont's crisis | The story of Stormont's crisis |
| Read more on how the crisis unfolded | Read more on how the crisis unfolded |
| She said it was important to get a more factual assessment about what intelligence services know on the continuing existence of paramilitary organisations. | She said it was important to get a more factual assessment about what intelligence services know on the continuing existence of paramilitary organisations. |
| On Friday, the government said it had commissioned an independent assessment of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland. | On Friday, the government said it had commissioned an independent assessment of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland. |
| The assessment, to be published in mid-October, will be used to inform parties at Northern Ireland's political talks. | The assessment, to be published in mid-October, will be used to inform parties at Northern Ireland's political talks. |
| Ms Villiers said she would also establish a fund to tackle organised crime associated with paramilitary groups. | Ms Villiers said she would also establish a fund to tackle organised crime associated with paramilitary groups. |
| The two unionist parties said they would join cross-party talks on Monday. | The two unionist parties said they would join cross-party talks on Monday. |
| Unionists had said the issue of continued paramilitary activity was crucial to their involvement. | Unionists had said the issue of continued paramilitary activity was crucial to their involvement. |
| Acting first minister Arlene Foster, DUP, told Good Morning Ulster on Monday: "It's not about the money situation, we need to get down to the fundamentals of whether we want devolution to work in Northern Ireland." | |
| Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said the budget was "very badly broken". | |
| "I believe it is a matter of weeks not months before it hits the buffers. That's likely to demonstrate itself in the health service which simply doesn't have enough money to function. This is an incredibly important situation, things need fixed." |