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McGuinness to meet Tory spokesman McGuinness to meet Tory spokesman
(about 2 hours later)
Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson is to meet Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at Stormont.Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson is to meet Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at Stormont.
The meeting comes amid a DUP and Sinn Fein war of words on how talks are progressing on the transfer of justice powers from London to Belfast.The meeting comes amid a DUP and Sinn Fein war of words on how talks are progressing on the transfer of justice powers from London to Belfast.
Mr Paterson has been at the centre of private talks involving the UUP and the DUP, which the Tories said were to "promote greater political stability".Mr Paterson has been at the centre of private talks involving the UUP and the DUP, which the Tories said were to "promote greater political stability".
Sinn Fein has accused the DUP of not doing enough to reach a deal.Sinn Fein has accused the DUP of not doing enough to reach a deal.
The DUP insists it is ready to resolve the outstanding issues, including the future of the Parades Commission. Mr Paterson is turning his attention to the Deputy First Minister, after meeting Acting First Minister Arlene Foster on Thursday.
The two men will discuss the current political instability.
Sinn Fein's Christmas deadline for a transfer date has long since passed. The party has called a party executive or ard chomlaire meeting for Saturday to consider its options.
John O'Dowd from Sinn Fein argued that 1 May 2008 was the date agreed at the St Andrews talks for the transfer of powers.
"A cursory glance at the St Andrews Agreement clearly shows that the date mentioned for transfer was May 1st 2008.
"No amount of selective reading will alter that fact and the more important issue that the DUP are in default of that agreement," he said.
But the DUP's Gregory Campbell has insisted that his party did not agree to a deadline.
"We entered into no commitment regarding a timescale for policing and justice," he said.
'Pressure cooker'
The transfer was always dependent on community confidence, he said, adding that some people were intent on creating "a pressure cooker atmosphere".
The DUP has insisted it is ready to resolve the outstanding issues, including the future of 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 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 commission.
Deadlock
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.
On Thursday, DUP Acting First Minister Arlene Foster called on the governments to help break the deadlock.On Thursday, DUP Acting First Minister Arlene Foster called on the governments to help break the deadlock.
She said "facilitation" would allow "a light to be shone on it all, because we certainly know what we have been doing over the last number of days".She said "facilitation" would allow "a light to be shone on it all, because we certainly know what we have been doing over the last number of days".
Sinn Fein's Mary-Lou McDonald said the DUP had "not yet indicated they were ready to meet their commitments".Sinn Fein's Mary-Lou McDonald said the DUP had "not yet indicated they were ready to meet their commitments".
She said Sinn Fein's ruling executive, the Ard Comhairle, would meet on Saturday to discuss the state of play.She said Sinn Fein's ruling executive, the Ard Comhairle, would meet on Saturday to discuss the state of play.