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| Stormont crisis: Theresa Villiers says talks process 'focused and productive' | Stormont crisis: Theresa Villiers says talks process 'focused and productive' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Northern Ireland's main political parties had a day of "focused and productive" talks in a bid to solve the ongoing crisis at Stormont, the Northern Ireland secretary has said. | Northern Ireland's main political parties had a day of "focused and productive" talks in a bid to solve the ongoing crisis at Stormont, the Northern Ireland secretary has said. |
| Round-table discussions have begun over the issues of over paramilitary activity and welfare reform. | Round-table discussions have begun over the issues of over paramilitary activity and welfare reform. |
| Theresa Villiers said all parties had "committed themselves" to the talks. | Theresa Villiers said all parties had "committed themselves" to the talks. |
| The political crisis was sparked by the murder of ex-IRA man Kevin McGuigan Sr last month. | The political crisis was sparked by the murder of ex-IRA man Kevin McGuigan Sr last month. |
| Northern Ireland's police chief said members of the IRA had been involved in the killing and that the organisation was still in existence. | Northern Ireland's police chief said members of the IRA had been involved in the killing and that the organisation was still in existence. |
| The resulting row led the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) to withdraw from Northern Ireland's ruling executive. | The resulting row led the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) to withdraw from Northern Ireland's ruling executive. |
| Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Peter Robinson later stepped aside as first minister, with three of his party's ministers also resigning. | Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Peter Robinson later stepped aside as first minister, with three of his party's ministers also resigning. |
| Proposals | Proposals |
| The two parties committed last week to joining cross-party talks after the government commissioned an independent assessment of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland. | The two parties committed last week to joining cross-party talks after the government commissioned an independent assessment of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland. |
| Unionists said the issue of continued paramilitary activity was crucial to their involvement in the discussions. | Unionists said the issue of continued paramilitary activity was crucial to their involvement in the discussions. |
| Mr Robinson, who joined Monday's talks after being discharged from hospital, said his party had six key proposals to bring to the table. | Mr Robinson, who joined Monday's talks after being discharged from hospital, said his party had six key proposals to bring to the table. |
| One of those would be the establishment of a "permanent" structure to examine paramilitary activity. | One of those would be the establishment of a "permanent" structure to examine paramilitary activity. |
| He said that body would be able to impose sanctions "to anybody who breaches" its terms. | He said that body would be able to impose sanctions "to anybody who breaches" its terms. |
| Ms Villiers said Tuesday's talks would concentrate on finance and welfare issues. | Ms Villiers said Tuesday's talks would concentrate on finance and welfare issues. |
| "Implementing these aspects of the Stormont House Agreement is essential if the executive is to have a workable and sustainable budget," she added. | "Implementing these aspects of the Stormont House Agreement is essential if the executive is to have a workable and sustainable budget," she added. |
| Mischievous | Mischievous |
| During a break from Monday's talks, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said anyone with evidence linking his party to criminality should go the police. | During a break from Monday's talks, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said anyone with evidence linking his party to criminality should go the police. |
| In a strongly worded message, the deputy first minister said: "It is now time to put up or shut up." | In a strongly worded message, the deputy first minister said: "It is now time to put up or shut up." |
| He accused some of the other parties of being "mischievous" by suggesting Sinn Féin was involved in criminality. | He accused some of the other parties of being "mischievous" by suggesting Sinn Féin was involved in criminality. |
| "If anybody has any information whatsoever about any party in government being involved in criminality, then they should put it up on the table and, more importantly, they should put it to the [Police Service of Northern Ireland]," he said. | "If anybody has any information whatsoever about any party in government being involved in criminality, then they should put it up on the table and, more importantly, they should put it to the [Police Service of Northern Ireland]," he 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 |
| UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said his party entered the talks "with some concerns, not least about whether there will be a two-party carve-up in a parallel process". | UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said his party entered the talks "with some concerns, not least about whether there will be a two-party carve-up in a parallel process". |
| But he added his party would offer "imaginative work around some of the blockages". | But he added his party would offer "imaginative work around some of the blockages". |
| Nominated | Nominated |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party leader Alasdair McDonnell said dealing with the past was a priority. | Social Democratic and Labour Party leader Alasdair McDonnell said dealing with the past was a priority. |
| "The past must be dealt with and victims and survivors must be dealt with honestly and honourably," he said. | "The past must be dealt with and victims and survivors must be dealt with honestly and honourably," he said. |
| Alliance Party leader David Ford said a deal had to be made. | Alliance Party leader David Ford said a deal had to be made. |
| "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," 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," he said. |
| At the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday, Mr Robinson nominated Michelle McIlveen to take over as the minister for regional development, replacing the UUP's Danny Kennedy who resigned in August. | At the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday, Mr Robinson nominated Michelle McIlveen to take over as the minister for regional development, replacing the UUP's Danny Kennedy who resigned in August. |
| But she later resigned from the position, in line with the DUP's "no business as usual" protest action. |