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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Stormont talks: Speculation that political deal is imminent | Stormont talks: Speculation that political deal is imminent |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Sources are predicting that a deal to resolve Northern Ireland's political deadlock will be confirmed later. | |
| The five main political parties, along with the British and Irish governments, were working to resolve differences over welfare reform and paramilitaries. | |
| It is understood that politicians may press ahead without resolving issues over the legacy of the Troubles. | It is understood that politicians may press ahead without resolving issues over the legacy of the Troubles. |
| Welfare reform could be dealt with by Westminster, despite the fact that it is a devolved matter. | Welfare reform could be dealt with by Westminster, despite the fact that it is a devolved matter. |
| The inter-party negotiations have been going on for 10 weeks and are also focusing on financial matters and paramilitary activity. | The inter-party negotiations have been going on for 10 weeks and are also focusing on financial matters and paramilitary activity. |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said on Monday that it was time for parties to decide on a deal. | Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said on Monday that it was time for parties to decide on a deal. |
| The Northern Ireland Executive is a mandatory coalition of five main parties - the DUP, Sinn Fein, the Ulster Unionist Party, the SDLP and the Alliance Party. | |
| At the end of August, the UUP walked out of the executive. | |
| On Tuesday, BBC News NI Political Editor Mark Devenport said any deal might not be a comprehensive one resolving all the issues confronting politicians. | On Tuesday, BBC News NI Political Editor Mark Devenport said any deal might not be a comprehensive one resolving all the issues confronting politicians. |
| He said that welfare could be dealt with from Westminster through what is known as a legislative consent motion. | He said that welfare could be dealt with from Westminster through what is known as a legislative consent motion. |
| This means it could bypass Stormont and the potentially time-consuming business of introducing a new Bill at the Assembly. | This means it could bypass Stormont and the potentially time-consuming business of introducing a new Bill at the Assembly. |
| He said: "Some other parties haven't been privy to discussions such as the SDLP and Alliance. | He said: "Some other parties haven't been privy to discussions such as the SDLP and Alliance. |
| "They've been called in for meetings with the first minister. | "They've been called in for meetings with the first minister. |
| "Presumably they will be shown some of the detail of what the two major parties have decided amongst themselves. | "Presumably they will be shown some of the detail of what the two major parties have decided amongst themselves. |
| "Another hint that they may be moving towards a deal, but not a comprehensive deal, came from Martin McGuinness on Monday. | |
| "He was saying that there was still a stumbling block over the new agencies, which they plan to create, to deal with the legacy of the Troubles. | "He was saying that there was still a stumbling block over the new agencies, which they plan to create, to deal with the legacy of the Troubles. |
| "The stumbling block is whether the UK government should be allowed to use national security as a blanket reason to refuse to disclose information. | "The stumbling block is whether the UK government should be allowed to use national security as a blanket reason to refuse to disclose information. |
| "Sinn Féin has perhaps felt that it has negotiated as hard as it can on this point and is prepared to park the legacy aspect of the Stormont House Agreement and move ahead with welfare, finance and paramilitarism." | "Sinn Féin has perhaps felt that it has negotiated as hard as it can on this point and is prepared to park the legacy aspect of the Stormont House Agreement and move ahead with welfare, finance and paramilitarism." |
| It is understood the issue of national security being used as a reason not to disclose information about the legacy of the Troubles has been proving an obstacle. | It is understood the issue of national security being used as a reason not to disclose information about the legacy of the Troubles has been proving an obstacle. |
| Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has told the BBC that even if the government did not meet nationalist requirements on this issue, it should not stop the parties pressing ahead in other areas. | Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has told the BBC that even if the government did not meet nationalist requirements on this issue, it should not stop the parties pressing ahead in other areas. |
| Cross-party discussions began in September in a bid to resolve Northern Ireland's current political crisis. | Cross-party discussions began in September in a bid to resolve Northern Ireland's current political crisis. |
| That crisis erupted when police said they believed IRA members had been involved in the murder of a former IRA man in Belfast in August. | That crisis erupted when police said they believed IRA members had been involved in the murder of a former IRA man in Belfast in August. |
| The parties have also been at loggerheads over the implementation of welfare reforms. | The parties have also been at loggerheads over the implementation of welfare reforms. |
| A welfare reform deal had been agreed almost a year ago, but Sinn Féin withdrew its support in March. | A welfare reform deal had been agreed almost a year ago, but Sinn Féin withdrew its support in March. |