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NI talks: Enda Kenny 'hopeful' deal can be reached by the weekend NI talks: Enda Kenny 'hopeful' deal can be reached by the weekend
(35 minutes later)
Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Enda Kenny has said he hopes for an agreement between the Northern Ireland parties by the weekend.Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Enda Kenny has said he hopes for an agreement between the Northern Ireland parties by the weekend.
Earlier, he told a business conference in London that Ireland regards the prospect of the UK leaving the European Union as a major strategic risk. Following a meeting at Downing Street, Mr Kenny said he would be travelling to Belfast to meet the first minister and deputy first minister.
The Taoiseach said that the EU had provided billions of euros in funding for Northern Ireland.
This was to help overcome the challenges in emerging from conflict.
Mr Kenny said research suggested Northern Ireland could be one of the most adversely affected regions in the UK in the event of a withdrawal from the EU.
Negotiators from the five main Northern Ireland Assembly parties returned to Stormont House on Monday morning for another round of talks, against a backdrop of increasing speculation that a deal could be announced this week.
Mr Kenny said he was hopeful that a deal could be agreed 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. Mr Kenny said he was hopeful that a deal could be agreed within the next few days.
"I would be hopeful that having had briefings from the minister for foreign affairs in respect of these discussions that they might be able to be concluded this week," he added.
"I am going to travel from here to Belfast to meet with First and Deputy First Minister Robinson and McGuinness and in respect of the document that has been the subject of discussions, I would hope that that might be concluded by the weekend though obviously we will have to wait and see what the outcome will be."
Negotiators from the five main Northern Ireland Assembly parties returned to Stormont House on Monday morning for another round of talks, against a backdrop of increasing speculation that a deal could be announced this week.
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 reform.The parties have also been deadlocked over the issue of welfare reform.
By Mark Devenport, BBC News NI Political EditorBy Mark Devenport, BBC News NI Political Editor
The latest Stormont negotiations have run for almost nine weeks.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.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.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.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.
While the taoiseach discusses the prospects for progress with David Cameron in Downing Street, the local parties are back at Stormont House for what the Irish government is describing as the critical final days of the talks process.While the taoiseach discusses the prospects for progress with David Cameron in Downing Street, the local parties are 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.
"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.
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 correspondentBy 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.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.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.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.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.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."
Speaking in a break from the talks on Monday, SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell said: "We have articulated our views strongly around the table. We need a very comprehensive sustainable deal that involves all five parties and the two governments."Speaking in a break from the talks on Monday, SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell said: "We have articulated our views strongly around the table. We need a very comprehensive sustainable deal that involves all five parties and the two governments."
He said the public was tired of "half baked deals" and "sticking plasters".
"We want a deal that will last so that we won't be back next May for Stormont House Three," he said."We want a deal that will last so that we won't be back next May for Stormont House Three," he said.
Dr McDonnell said the greatest difficulty concerned legislation around victims and survivors and the past.Dr McDonnell said the greatest difficulty concerned legislation around victims and survivors and the past.
Alex Attwood, SDLP, said: "Let us have the big, best, bold outcomes so that victims and survivors get everything they seek and so that we once and for all purge this land of any shadow of criminality and paramilitarism."Alex Attwood, SDLP, said: "Let us have the big, best, bold outcomes so that victims and survivors get everything they seek and so that we once and for all purge this land of any shadow of criminality and paramilitarism."
He said all the parties needed to know what the government was thinking.
"People made it very clear that the best deal is one that is five parties and two governments. That is our view; that should be the view of everybody. Anybody going down a different road is going down a dead end," he said.