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| Adams hopeful on devolution deal | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Sinn Fein leader has insisted a deal can be done on the devolution of policing and justice powers but said talks could not continue "endlessly". | |
| Gerry Adams said it was his view that outstanding issues could be resolved but warned that "backwoodsmen" could not dictate the pace of negotiations. | |
| His party colleague Martin McGuinness will give a report on the state of play to the Sinn Fein officer board later. | |
| Mr Adams said he was likely to offer "options" rather than "firm proposals". | |
| 'Ridiculous situation' | |
| Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster, the Sinn Fein president agreed it was fair to say there was no sign of an immediate resolution to outstanding issues but added that he did not see why they had not been resolved before now. | |
| Mr Adams also claimed the transfer of policing and justice powers was now "over a year late". | |
| "We are in this ridiculous situation where we have a legislative assembly and we cannot bring in legislation on policing issues, on law and order issues, on community safety issues, on sentencing," he said. | |
| Talks between Sinn Fein and the DUP about resolving the issues blocking a deal on devolution are set to resume later. | |
| 'No deadlines' | |
| BBC Northern Ireland political correspondent Martina Purdy said that if the Sinn Fein officers board decides to call a twice-postponed party executive meeting, that would be "seen as at least a cry for help for London and Dublin to intervene." | |
| However she added that Sinn Fein was not yet at the point of taking the "nuclear option" of pulling Mr McGuinness out of the deputy first minister post. | |
| Mr McGuinness will update senior party members on Thursday | |
| When asked how close his party was to taking that decision, Mr Adams said Sinn Fein was "not threatening anyone" and "not setting down deadlines" but added that "people cannot just keep talking endlessly without product". | |
| "Yes a deal can be done. Is a deal likely to be done if we just keep endlessly shuffling back and forth dealing with the same issues ad nauseum? No, it strikes me that the backwoodsmen would simply dictate the pace," he said. | |
| 'Sticking point' | |
| DUP and Sinn Fein negotiating teams also spent most of Wednesday in talks in an attempt to resolve the impasse. | |
| It is understood that parading was one of the bigger issues included for discussion on position papers passed between the parties. | It is understood that parading was one of the bigger issues included for discussion on position papers passed between the parties. |
| The question of how to deal with Orange Order parades is believed to be a sticking point between the parties, with Sinn Fein resisting DUP efforts to replace the Parades Commission. | The question of how to deal with Orange Order parades is believed to be a sticking point between the parties, with Sinn Fein resisting DUP efforts to replace the Parades Commission. |
| The DUP wants an alternative way to adjudicate on contentious marches along the lines of interim proposals produced by a group headed by Lord Ashdown. | The DUP wants an alternative way to adjudicate on contentious marches along the lines of interim proposals produced by a group headed by Lord Ashdown. |
| It is thought the DUP and Sinn Fein could try to reach a compromise position or agree to resolve the issue at a future date. | It is thought the DUP and Sinn Fein could try to reach a compromise position or agree to resolve the issue at a future date. |