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| NI talks: North-south meeting postponed 'to allow conclusion' | NI talks: North-south meeting postponed 'to allow conclusion' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A north-south ministerial meeting scheduled for Friday has been postponed to allow political talks to reach a conclusion. | A north-south ministerial meeting scheduled for Friday has been postponed to allow political talks to reach a conclusion. |
| Stormont parties and the British and Irish governments have been involved in negotiations for more than two months. | Stormont parties and the British and Irish governments have been involved in negotiations for more than two months. |
| Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said he would not put a timeframe on how soon a deal might be reached. | Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said he would not put a timeframe on how soon a deal might be reached. |
| Inter-party talks began in September to resolve the current political crisis. | Inter-party talks began in September to resolve the current political crisis. |
| "It's expected that all parties will be participating [discussing] a number of outstanding issues," Mr Flanagan said. | "It's expected that all parties will be participating [discussing] a number of outstanding issues," Mr Flanagan said. |
| "But overall a significant measure of progress [has been made] and I believe we can build on that to reach a conclusive agreement." | |
| SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell said any deal would have to be one all of the five main parties could agree on. | SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell said any deal would have to be one all of the five main parties could agree on. |
| "This can't be an ambush," he said. | "This can't be an ambush," he said. |
| "We're looking for a five-party deal with five parties and two governments signing up to a deal that's sustainable, that we're not back here next May or June." | "We're looking for a five-party deal with five parties and two governments signing up to a deal that's sustainable, that we're not back here next May or June." |
| Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney said the British and Irish governments' "self interests" are blocking progress in the negotiations. | Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney said the British and Irish governments' "self interests" are blocking progress in the negotiations. |
| "The failure of the British and Irish governments to step up to the mark and frustrate the efforts of local parties to secure a final agreement has become a huge problem," he said. | "The failure of the British and Irish governments to step up to the mark and frustrate the efforts of local parties to secure a final agreement has become a huge problem," he said. |
| The crisis at Stormont was triggered when police said they believed IRA members had been involved in the murder of a former IRA man. | The 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. |
| 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. |