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Robinson 'in the loop' on talks Foster 'hopes for breakthrough'
(39 minutes later)
Peter Robinson will return "within days" as the DUP's chief negotiator in talks to resolve the deadlock with Sinn Fein, a party colleague has said. The DUP and Sinn Fein are working to fit "the last piece in the jigsaw" to resolve the Stormont deadlock, acting first minister Arlene Foster has said.
Nelson McCausland said reports about Iris Robinson had not weakened the DUP in talks about moving policing and justice powers from London to Belfast. Intensive talks have been taking place about moving policing and justice powers from London to Belfast.
On Tuesday, NI Secretary Shaun Woodward urged unionists to reach a deal to transfer the powers to Stormont. The two parties have been arguing for months. NI Secretary Shaun Woodward has urged unionists to reach a deal.
Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams said talks were at a "sensitive and serious stage". Mrs Foster said the police were already accountable and the DUP must ensure any deal was done "in the right way".
He called the talks "hugely important" but would not comment on details, while his colleague Gerry Kelly said Mr Woodward's comments and the intense media focus were a hindrance. "I believe it will be for the best for the people of Northern Ireland, but we must do it in a way that we bring it to a Northern Ireland that is stable so the policing powers that come here will be durable and lasting," the DUP assembly member told the BBC.
The British and Irish governments see the transfer of policing and justice as the last piece of the devolution jigsaw.
The intensified talks took place as Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster began work as acting first minister of Northern Ireland.
It's a very important time for all unionists to realise that now is the time to complete devolution Shaun WoodwardNI secretary Q&A: NI Policing and JusticeIt's a very important time for all unionists to realise that now is the time to complete devolution Shaun WoodwardNI secretary Q&A: NI Policing and Justice
She is standing in for Mr Robinson, who has stood aside for six weeks in order to clear his name over an allegation surrounding his wife Iris's personal and financial conduct. "Our chief constable would say he's already the most accountable chief constable in these islands.
Earlier on Wednesday, BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport said DUP sources were telling him Mr Robinson is still "in the loop" during the negotiations, which both sides have described as constructive. "There is a lot of devolved power already in Northern Ireland in relation to policing and justice - this is really the last piece of the jigsaw and we want to make sure that we're doing it in the right way."
"Whilst the noises from Sinn Fein were more positive than last week, they have not given us any detail so it's difficult to assess where we're at. Mrs Foster took over as acting first minister after DUP leader Peter Robinson announced on Monday he was stepping aside for six weeks to clear his name over an allegation surrounding his wife Iris's personal and financial conduct.
"Sinn Fein want movement on this to allow the necessary legislation to go through Westminster before the general election. Party colleague Nelson McCausland said Mr Robinson would return "within days" as the DUP's chief negotiator in the talks, while it is believed he is being kept "in the loop" about how things are progressing.
"However, the DUP has been insisting on community confidence first - you could say on one hand it's a big job to build community confidence in such a short period of time, while on the other this has been going on for months if not years already." Discussions between the parties have been fractious in recent months, but the mood in these latest talks has been more upbeat.
Sticking point 'Sensitive stage'
Our correspondent said the sticking point seemed to be how to deal with Orange Order parades. On Tuesday, Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward urged unionists to reach a deal, saying the lack of agreement had created a "vacuum" which was being exploited by dissident republicans.
Sinn Fein has warned in recent weeks that progress needs to be made quickly or the power-sharing government could collapse.
Gerry Adams said on Tuesday evening that the talks were at a "sensitive and serious stage".
The question of how to deal with Orange Order parades is believed to be a sticking point.
The DUP wants to replace the Parades Commission, which adjudicates on the routes of contentious marches, with an alternative body along the lines of interim proposals by a group headed by Lord Ashdown. This has been resisted by Sinn Fein.The DUP wants to replace the Parades Commission, which adjudicates on the routes of contentious marches, with an alternative body along the lines of interim proposals by a group headed by Lord Ashdown. This has been resisted by Sinn Fein.
He added: "You could see them working out a compromise that tries to merge these two compromises, or at least a letter setting out a willingness to deal with this in the future." It is thought the DUP and Sinn Fein could try to reach a compromise position or agree to deal with the issue in the future.
Mr Woodward met Irish foreign minister Micheal Martin in Dublin on Tuesday evening.
Speaking afterwards, he said the lack of agreement had created a "vacuum" which was being exploited by dissident republicans.
ROBINSON STORY SO FAR 6 January: Peter Robinson says his wife Iris tried to take her own life last March after admitting an affair with teenager Kirk McCambley7 January: BBC's Spotlight reveals details of Iris Robinson's financial affairs - she obtained £50,000 from two property developers to help her lover launch a café and asked him for £5,000 for herself10 January: DUP says Iris Robinson is receiving acute psychiatric treatment11 January: Peter Robinson steps aside from his role as first minister for a six-week period - DUP colleague Arlene Foster becomes acting first minister amid renewed focus on resolving her party's problems with Stormont power-sharing colleagues Sinn Fein Timeline: Robinson allegationsROBINSON STORY SO FAR 6 January: Peter Robinson says his wife Iris tried to take her own life last March after admitting an affair with teenager Kirk McCambley7 January: BBC's Spotlight reveals details of Iris Robinson's financial affairs - she obtained £50,000 from two property developers to help her lover launch a café and asked him for £5,000 for herself10 January: DUP says Iris Robinson is receiving acute psychiatric treatment11 January: Peter Robinson steps aside from his role as first minister for a six-week period - DUP colleague Arlene Foster becomes acting first minister amid renewed focus on resolving her party's problems with Stormont power-sharing colleagues Sinn Fein Timeline: Robinson allegations
"It's a very important time for all unionists to realise that now is the time to complete devolution." Mrs Foster is due to meet representatives from the nationalist SDLP and cross-community Alliance Party later on Wednesday. She will meet the UUP on Thursday.
Mr Martin said he believed that "80 to 85%" of issues had been resolved and was optimistic that the parties would reach agreement soon. UUP leader Sir Reg Empey said on Tuesday his party would have to see the shape of a deal on policing and justice before committing to supporting it.
UUP leader Sir Reg Empey, described a meeting with Mr Woodward on Tuesday as "useful" but said his party would have to see the shape of a deal on policing and justice before committing to supporting it.
He added that he was very concerned that any agreement could appear that it has been negotiated by the DUP under duress.He added that he was very concerned that any agreement could appear that it has been negotiated by the DUP under duress.
On Wednesday, Sir Reg was accused of being "irresponsible and short-sighted" by the cross-community Alliance Party leader David Ford. On Wednesday, Sir Reg was accused of being "irresponsible and short-sighted" by Alliance Party leader David Ford.
"He is cynically using the current impasse to play unionist power games at the expense of the peace process," he said."He is cynically using the current impasse to play unionist power games at the expense of the peace process," he said.
Sinn Fein and the DUP have been at loggerheads for months over transfer of justice and policing powers from London to Belfast.
Sinn Fein has warned that progress needs to be made quickly or the power-sharing government could collapse.