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NI talks: Enda Kenny 'hopeful' deal can be reached within days | NI talks: Enda Kenny 'hopeful' deal can be reached within days |
(about 20 hours later) | |
Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has said he is hopeful a deal can be agreed between the Northern Ireland parties within the next few days. | Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has said he is hopeful a deal can be agreed between the Northern Ireland parties within the next few days. |
Inter-party talks began in September to resolve the current political crisis. | Inter-party talks began in September to resolve the current political crisis. |
They have been focused on the budget, welfare reform as well as past and present paramilitary activity. | They have been focused on the budget, welfare reform as well as past and present paramilitary activity. |
The current crisis at Stormont was triggered when police said they believed IRA members had been involved in the murder of a former IRA man. | The current crisis at Stormont was triggered when police said they believed IRA members had been involved in the murder of a former IRA man. |
The parties have also been deadlocked over the issue of welfare. | The parties have also been deadlocked over the issue of welfare. |
By Mark Devenport, BBC News NI Political Editor | |
The latest Stormont negotiations have run for almost nine weeks. | |
They had two main aims - to deal with the crisis over paramilitary activity sparked by the murder of former IRA member Kevin McGuigan and to try to reinvigorate last December's Stormont House Deal which stalled over the issue of welfare reform. | |
At times, the talks looked doomed, as a senior Sinn Féin official was arrested then released by detectives investigating Kevin McGuigan's murder and DUP ministers embarked on their tactic of rolling resignations. | |
But now the mood is optimistic with Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness travelling together to Downing Street last Friday to discuss the financial aspects of any new deal with the Prime Minister. | |
Whilst the Taoiseach discusses the prospects for progress with David Cameron in Downing Street, the local parties will be back at Stormont House for what the Irish government is describing as the critical final days of the talks process. | |
The Northern Ireland parties had agreed on a welfare reform deal in December but Sinn Féin withdrew its support in March. | The Northern Ireland parties had agreed on a welfare reform deal in December but Sinn Féin withdrew its support in March. |
Speaking at a Remembrance Sunday event in Enniskillen, Mr Kenny said: "I'm very hopeful and happy that the reports I'm getting are that a deal is on here. | Speaking at a Remembrance Sunday event in Enniskillen, Mr Kenny said: "I'm very hopeful and happy that the reports I'm getting are that a deal is on here. |
"I do hope it can be concluded successfully in the next couple of days." | "I do hope it can be concluded successfully in the next couple of days." |
Mr Kenny said he would raise the issue with Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday. | Mr Kenny said he would raise the issue with Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday. |
He also revealed that he would be meeting Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minster Martin McGuinness. | He also revealed that he would be meeting Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minster Martin McGuinness. |
By Shane Harrison, BBC News NI Dublin correspondent | |
I think there is a sense in Dublin that there is something in the air, there could well be an agreement this week. | |
That is the official line, although government sources last night were stressing that whenever Mr Kenny has made briefings about Northern Ireland, he has sometimes been made a fool of by what he has said and his optimism. | |
The secretary of state was a bit less confident, more cautious. | |
Mr Kenny said he hopes to meet Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness again very soon. | |
There were reports that could be as soon as today, but again government sources were playing down the venue and time of that meeting. | |
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers told the BBC that she expected this week to be crucial in finding a resolution. | Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers told the BBC that she expected this week to be crucial in finding a resolution. |
"I think there has been some progress on certain issues, the gap is closing, but it is still a very difficult task," she said. | "I think there has been some progress on certain issues, the gap is closing, but it is still a very difficult task," she said. |
"There are still some very sensitive and difficult issues, where getting a resolution and finding common ground between all the participants in the talks is going to be very difficult." | "There are still some very sensitive and difficult issues, where getting a resolution and finding common ground between all the participants in the talks is going to be very difficult." |
Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness held a private meeting with Mr Cameron at Downing Street on Friday. | Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness held a private meeting with Mr Cameron at Downing Street on Friday. |