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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| PM trip aims to end N Ireland row | PM trip aims to end N Ireland row |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Gordon Brown has arrived in Belfast for talks with Northern Ireland's political leaders in a bid to resolve a deepening row at Stormont. | Gordon Brown has arrived in Belfast for talks with Northern Ireland's political leaders in a bid to resolve a deepening row at Stormont. |
| Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionists are at loggerheads over when policing and justice powers should be devolved from Westminster. | Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionists are at loggerheads over when policing and justice powers should be devolved from Westminster. |
| While Sinn Fein wants it to happen immediately, the DUP is more cautious. | While Sinn Fein wants it to happen immediately, the DUP is more cautious. |
| But there are fears the increasingly bitter row could bring down the power-sharing executive. | But there are fears the increasingly bitter row could bring down the power-sharing executive. |
| Relations between DUP First Minister Peter Robinson and Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have deteriorated in recent weeks. | Relations between DUP First Minister Peter Robinson and Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have deteriorated in recent weeks. |
| ANALYSIS Gareth Gordon, BBC News, Stormont When power was devolved back to Northern Ireland more than two years ago one crucial element was retained at Westminster - policing and justice. | ANALYSIS Gareth Gordon, BBC News, Stormont When power was devolved back to Northern Ireland more than two years ago one crucial element was retained at Westminster - policing and justice. |
| The deal which put old enemies the DUP and Sinn Fein in government together was ground-breaking but most accepted the time was not right to expect them to administer this sensitive area. That has now changed. | The deal which put old enemies the DUP and Sinn Fein in government together was ground-breaking but most accepted the time was not right to expect them to administer this sensitive area. That has now changed. |
| The British and Irish Governments, as well as Sinn Fein, believe its time for unionists to agree to "the final piece in the devolution jigsaw." | The British and Irish Governments, as well as Sinn Fein, believe its time for unionists to agree to "the final piece in the devolution jigsaw." |
| The DUP says there is not yet sufficient public confidence and that they will only move when there is - there's also the vexed issue of funding. | The DUP says there is not yet sufficient public confidence and that they will only move when there is - there's also the vexed issue of funding. |
| But Sinn Fein appears to have lost patience, claiming the DUP is using money as an excuse not to do it. With some believing the row is now threatening the stability of the power sharing institutions, the prime minister is hoping he can break the stalemate | But Sinn Fein appears to have lost patience, claiming the DUP is using money as an excuse not to do it. With some believing the row is now threatening the stability of the power sharing institutions, the prime minister is hoping he can break the stalemate |
| Mr McGuinness has suggested that Mr Robinson might be having "cold feet" about a deal. | Mr McGuinness has suggested that Mr Robinson might be having "cold feet" about a deal. |
| Mr Robinson retorted that Mr McGuinness was making a "one-sided nasty attack". | Mr Robinson retorted that Mr McGuinness was making a "one-sided nasty attack". |
| Confidence | Confidence |
| Sinn Fein says the transfer should have happened months ago, but the DUP says the Treasury must pay for it. The cost is thought to be in the region of £600 million. | Sinn Fein says the transfer should have happened months ago, but the DUP says the Treasury must pay for it. The cost is thought to be in the region of £600 million. |
| Mr Robinson has also said the unionist community must have confidence in the new arrangements before he will give the go ahead. He said the transfer could not happen before Christmas. | Mr Robinson has also said the unionist community must have confidence in the new arrangements before he will give the go ahead. He said the transfer could not happen before Christmas. |
| The Conservative leader David Cameron has said if he becomes prime minister it would be his inclination to support whatever budget is agreed for devolving policing. | |
| He said the Conservative are committed to devolution - and the uncertainty over the budget could be helped if the government talked to him about it. | |
| Last week he told the BBC: "We want it to happen and generally speaking commitments that are made we will try and agree to, but I can't give a blank cheque." | |
| BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport said Monday's talks are part of a series of meetings and no-one is expecting any kind of historic agreement today. | BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport said Monday's talks are part of a series of meetings and no-one is expecting any kind of historic agreement today. |
| "What they say they have been doing is slowly narrowing down the issues in relation to finance," he added. | "What they say they have been doing is slowly narrowing down the issues in relation to finance," he added. |
| "There are a few complicating factors, one is that some of the financial estimates are a bit fluid." | "There are a few complicating factors, one is that some of the financial estimates are a bit fluid." |
| Our correspondent said there could be difficulties "further down the road" if Sinn Fein was to conclude that the unionists were going to delay indefinitely on the matter. | Our correspondent said there could be difficulties "further down the road" if Sinn Fein was to conclude that the unionists were going to delay indefinitely on the matter. |
| "Lurking in the background is the thought - what if Sinn Fein were to try to pull the plug on the Executive or trigger an early election? | "Lurking in the background is the thought - what if Sinn Fein were to try to pull the plug on the Executive or trigger an early election? |
| "Nobody is certain at this stage whether they might do that or not." | "Nobody is certain at this stage whether they might do that or not." |