This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8267963.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
No agreement after policing talks | No agreement after policing talks |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Peter Robinson has said he and Martin McGuinness have made progress in their discussions with Gordon Brown over a budget for policing and justice. | Peter Robinson has said he and Martin McGuinness have made progress in their discussions with Gordon Brown over a budget for policing and justice. |
The talks on devolving the powers will continue on Wednesday in New York where the first and deputy first ministers are to attend an economic conference. | The talks on devolving the powers will continue on Wednesday in New York where the first and deputy first ministers are to attend an economic conference. |
Monday's talks at Downing Street lasted for about two hours. | Monday's talks at Downing Street lasted for about two hours. |
Afterwards, Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness gave separate news conferences. | Afterwards, Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness gave separate news conferences. |
Mr Robinson said they discussed a wide range of issues but no overall deal had been agreed. | Mr Robinson said they discussed a wide range of issues but no overall deal had been agreed. |
"As the prime minister was able to make offers on some elements, we will now consider these in greater detail," he said. | |
"A number of big ticket issues remain outstanding and have not been addressed by the government, however, the prime minister has given a commitment to deal with these matters later this week. | |
"Whilst I will be travelling to New York on Wednesday morning, I have made it clear that these financial discussions will not be concluded in the States. | |
"As far as I am concerned, the party will not be concluding the financial deal until the party officers and our assembly group have evaluated the package and are satisfied." | |
He said community confidence remained the crucial test for devolving policing and justice powers. | |
'Significant progress' | |
The deputy first minister, Mr McGuinness, said progress was significant and he was hopeful a deal could be concluded later this week. | |
"I said last week that I thought we had made good progress," he said. | |
"I think we've made further good progress - even significant progress - in the course of our discussions this evening around a range of issues that are of concern to us. | |
"We are hoping to conclude our discussions on all of this in New York on Wednesday." | |
Meanwhile, the Conservative Party's Northern Ireland spokesman, Owen Paterson, warned his party would not give any guarantees about the funding of policing and justice powers. | Meanwhile, the Conservative Party's Northern Ireland spokesman, Owen Paterson, warned his party would not give any guarantees about the funding of policing and justice powers. |
Mr Robinson had called on Tory leader David Cameron to approve any financial package offered by the prime minister, saying there was no point agreeing a package with one government when another might take over. | Mr Robinson had called on Tory leader David Cameron to approve any financial package offered by the prime minister, saying there was no point agreeing a package with one government when another might take over. |