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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'
(about 1 hour 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.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. Peter Robinson stepped aside as first minister 10 days ago.
All but one of the DUP ministers resigned in the deepening political row.All but one of the DUP ministers resigned in the deepening political row.
Last week, they were re-instated, but only for a matter of hours before they resigned again.Last week, they were re-instated, but only for a matter of hours before they resigned again.
In an interview with BBC Radio Ulster ahead of Monday's talks, Ms Villiers told the BBC that there was no more money for welfare reform. At the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday, DUP leader Mr Robinson nominated Michelle McIlveen to take over as minister for regional development, replacing Ulster Unionist Danny Kennedy who resigned as a result of the crisis over IRA activity.
Ms McIlveen is expected to resign swiftly in line with the DUP's "no business as usual" protest action.
Gareth Gordon, BBC NI Political Correspondent
An opening round table talks session, described as a scene setter has ended.
UUP leader Mike Nesbitt described the mood as serious. The next meeting begins at 15:00 BST with paramilitarism the first item on the agenda, he said.
DUP leader Peter Robinson said the three-person panel set up to look at paramilitarism in Northern Ireland will be announced later on Monday.
There is expected to be a third round-table discussion before the talks break up for the day at about tea-time
In an interview with BBC Radio Ulster ahead of Monday's talks, Ms Villiers said 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.
Mark Devenport, BBC NI Political Editor
MLAs are due to hear who will be, temporarily at least, the new regional development minister. Following the resignation of Danny Kennedy, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has clarified that it has no intention of taking its old department.
Instead, DUP leader Peter Robinson is expected to nominate one of his MLAs in order to stop the ministry going to Sinn Féin. However, the new minister will then promptly resign as part of the DUP's current protest action.
"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, Mr Robinson, 66, said the mood at the opening talks was "serious and focussed".
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 said there was some scepticism about the value of too many round-table talks and that the "real work" would happen at bi-lateral talks.
He is briefing his party colleagues ahead of the talks. Mr Robinson was discharged from the Royal Victoria Hospital on Sunday, having spent a night there. It is understood he suffered a reaction to medicine prescribed following his heart attack in May.
In her radio interview, 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 her radio interview, 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.
The story of Stormont's crisisThe story of Stormont's crisis
Read more on how the crisis unfoldedRead 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."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."
Speaking shortly before entering the talks, Martin McGuinness, Sinn Féin, said there were "many nettles to be grasped".Speaking shortly before entering the talks, Martin McGuinness, Sinn Féin, said there were "many nettles to be grasped".
"We're obviously going into these discussions with a view to finding a resolution to the outstanding difficulties and to ensure there is a workable budget for the executive."We're obviously going into these discussions with a view to finding a resolution to the outstanding difficulties and to ensure there is a workable budget for the executive.
"I think there is a huge responsibility on the two governments to be creative, to deploy a spirit of generosity.""I think there is a huge responsibility on the two governments to be creative, to deploy a spirit of generosity."
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said his party was entering the talks "with some concerns, not least about whether there will be a two-party carve-up in a parallel process".Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said his party was entering the talks "with some concerns, not least about whether there will be a two-party carve-up in a parallel process".
"We enter the talks in the spirit of being positive and offering imaginative work around some of the blockages," he said."We enter the talks in the spirit of being positive and offering imaginative work around some of the blockages," he said.
Alliance leader David Ford said a deal had to be made.Alliance leader David Ford said a deal had to be made.
"We have to deal with all the outstanding issues around finance and welfare reform," he said."We have to deal with all the outstanding issues around finance and welfare reform," he said.
"We need to end the culture of insidious paramilitarism and to reform the institutions so that we don't keep having a crisis year after year.""We need to end the culture of insidious paramilitarism and to reform the institutions so that we don't keep having a crisis year after year."