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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.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.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.
It is thought that the format for Tuesday afternoon will be:It is thought that the format for Tuesday afternoon will be:
By Mark Devenport, BBC News NI Political Editor
It is understood welfare reform will be dealt with via a legislative consent motion, which means MLAs will vote to allow Westminster to implement welfare changes in Northern Ireland.
Previously, Sinn Féin indicated its opposition to Westminster legislating directly for welfare reform, but republican sources say a better financial package has now been negotiated to help vulnerable people who will lose out as a result of the welfare changes.
However, the same sources concede that the additional cuts to benefits and tax credits introduced by the Conservative government since the last election make it impossible for Sinn Féin to achieve its previous pledge that no-one would lose out as a result of the welfare changes.
The sums involved in any new welfare mitigation schemes have not yet been confirmed, but sources say the package may have been compressed - which means it will be initially more short lived than the six-year plan set out in the previous Stormont Castle Agreement.
Informed sources say extra resources over and above those contained in last Christmas's Stormont House Agreement have been obtained for the Executive budget. It is thought these sums may relate to areas like mental health and security where local parties have made the argument that Northern Ireland has unique circumstances.
It is believed there will be a strategy to deal with paramilitarism, but there will not be a body with powers to recommend the exclusion of parties from the assembly, like the old Independent Monitoring Commission.
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.
Ms Theresa Villiers said on Monday that it was time for parties to decide on a deal.Ms Theresa Villiers said on Monday that it was time for parties to decide on a deal.
BBC News NI Political Editor Mark Devenport has looked in detail at what the agreement might contain.
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.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.At the end of August, the UUP walked out of the executive.
Party leader Mike Nesbitt made the recommendation after police said members of the Provisional IRA were involved in murdering ex-IRA man Kevin McGuigan Sr.Party leader Mike Nesbitt made the recommendation after police said members of the Provisional IRA were involved in murdering ex-IRA man Kevin McGuigan Sr.
Sinn Féin's denial that the IRA existed made it "impossible to do business with them," Mr Nesbitt said.Sinn Féin's denial that the IRA existed made it "impossible to do business with them," Mr Nesbitt said.
On Tuesday, BBC News NI's Mark Devenport said: "Some other parties haven't been privy to discussions such as the SDLP and Alliance. On Monday, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said there was still a stumbling block over the new agencies created to deal with the legacy of the Troubles.
"They've been called in for meetings with the first minister. The stumbling block is whether the UK government should be allowed to use national security as a blanket reason to refuse to disclose information.
"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.
"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."
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.
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.