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| Stormont talks: Brokenshire sets month-end deadline | Stormont talks: Brokenshire sets month-end deadline |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The latest date for an executive to be formed to pass a budget is the week beginning 6 November, the NI secretary of state has said. | The latest date for an executive to be formed to pass a budget is the week beginning 6 November, the NI secretary of state has said. |
| James Brokenshire said that would mean legislation would have to pass through Westminster by the end of this month. | James Brokenshire said that would mean legislation would have to pass through Westminster by the end of this month. |
| This would mean the parties would have to agree a deal by 30 October. | This would mean the parties would have to agree a deal by 30 October. |
| Mr Brokenshire said while there had been talks between the DUP and Sinn Féin, prospects of a deal to restore devolution do not look "positive". | Mr Brokenshire said while there had been talks between the DUP and Sinn Féin, prospects of a deal to restore devolution do not look "positive". |
| The Conservative minister was speaking to the cross-party Northern Ireland Affairs committee. | The Conservative minister was speaking to the cross-party Northern Ireland Affairs committee. |
| He also told MPs that progress in the intensive talks had "stalled at the end of last week ". | He also told MPs that progress in the intensive talks had "stalled at the end of last week ". |
| The stumbling blocks between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin were around language and culture, he said. | The stumbling blocks between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin were around language and culture, he said. |
| The secretary of state also told the committee that he "recognises public pressure" over the issue of MLA pay. | The secretary of state also told the committee that he "recognises public pressure" over the issue of MLA pay. |
| He said he would will keep issue "under examination" and if there was no progress will deal with it. | He said he would will keep issue "under examination" and if there was no progress will deal with it. |
| The Westminster select committee is charged with investigating Northern Irish matters including the role of the Northern Ireland Office (NIO). | The Westminster select committee is charged with investigating Northern Irish matters including the role of the Northern Ireland Office (NIO). |
| The secretary of state's comments come as discussions between the two main parties, the DUP and Sinn Féin, continue in an attempt to restore devolution. | The secretary of state's comments come as discussions between the two main parties, the DUP and Sinn Féin, continue in an attempt to restore devolution. |
| The executive collapsed in January and since then Northern Ireland has been without a government. | The executive collapsed in January and since then Northern Ireland has been without a government. |
| Despite endless rounds of discussions, a deal to restore power-sharing has proved elusive with the introduction of an Irish Language Act seen as the main issue. | Despite endless rounds of discussions, a deal to restore power-sharing has proved elusive with the introduction of an Irish Language Act seen as the main issue. |
| 'To the brink' | 'To the brink' |
| Reacting to Mr Brokenshire's comments, Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill said she was still hopeful of a positive resolution, but "clearly, we are quickly running out of road". | |
| The party's Stormont leader said the institutions could form a bulwark against "Tory austerity" but "considerable challenges still remain" if they were to be restored. | |
| Other political parties in Northern Ireland have been voicing their frustration with the situation. | Other political parties in Northern Ireland have been voicing their frustration with the situation. |
| Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann said Mr Brokenshire now had a responsibility to "look at options to allow other parties to get on with the job". | |
| SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the two main parties "have brought us to the brink of direct rule." | |
| "In particular for the nationalist community, after years of trying to bring power back to Irish soil in order that local people could make local decisions, it should be a source of great anger that all of that power and progress is now being handed back to a Tory/DUP government in London," he added. | "In particular for the nationalist community, after years of trying to bring power back to Irish soil in order that local people could make local decisions, it should be a source of great anger that all of that power and progress is now being handed back to a Tory/DUP government in London," he added. |
| Alliance health spokeswoman Paula Bradshaw accused the parties of "showing a callous disregard for patient care". | Alliance health spokeswoman Paula Bradshaw accused the parties of "showing a callous disregard for patient care". |
| "Issues such as missed targets and long waiting lists have direct consequences on people's quality of life, yet still we see parties putting their own narrow sectional interests ahead of the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people," she added. | "Issues such as missed targets and long waiting lists have direct consequences on people's quality of life, yet still we see parties putting their own narrow sectional interests ahead of the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people," she added. |