This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34806248

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
NI talks: North-south meeting postponed 'to allow conclusion' Stormont talks: Sources say NI deal 'unlikely' to be announced on Friday
(about 2 hours later)
A north-south ministerial meeting scheduled for Friday has been postponed to allow political talks to reach a conclusion. Stormont sources have played down the prospects of reaching an agreement in the Northern Ireland talks on Friday.
Stormont parties and the British and Irish governments have been involved in negotiations for more than two months. The five main parties and the British and Irish governments have been in negotiations for more than two months.
They are trying resolve disputes over finance, welfare, paramilitary activity and the legacy of the Troubles.
One source said much progress had been made but a number of issues still had to be agreed. He suggested a deal was unlikely to be announced on Friday.
It is understood that one of the sticking points in discussions about the legacy of the Troubles centres on the issue of national security and disclosure of information on the role played by the security forces and intelligence agencies.
Sinn Fein's national chairperson Declan Kearney said in a statement that the "self-interests" of both governments were "blocking progress in the current negotiations."
He accused the Irish government of playing a "subservient role by aiding and abetting the primacy of these British state interests".
Earlier, a north-south ministerial meeting scheduled for Friday was postponed to allow political talks to reach a conclusion.
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.""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.
"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.