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PMs meet ahead of NI crisis talks NI crisis talks enter second day
(40 minutes later)
The British and Irish premiers have met ahead of the second day of talks aimed at averting the collapse of devolved government in Northern Ireland. A second day of political talks aimed at averting the collapse of devolved government in Northern Ireland are under way at Hillsborough Castle.
The talks are being held in an attempt to find agreement between Sinn Fein and the DUP on the devolution of policing and justice powers to Stormont. The talks between Sinn Fein and the DUP are being chaired by the British and Irish prime ministers.
Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen arrived in Belfast on Monday and held late night discussions with both parties. They are being held in an attempt to find agreement on the devolution of policing and justice powers to NI.
Speaking afterwards, the government said the talks were "hard going". Speaking before the talks, DUP leader Peter Robinson said his party would not be pushed into a deal.
A spokesperson said: "It was hard going but the parties engaged in good faith. There was frank discussion across a range of issues. However, he added that his party were there for the "long haul".
"The prime minister and taoiseach (Irish prime minister) remain determined that progress can be made, so discussions will continue on Tuesday morning." "The issue of policing and justice has dogged us in the assembly," Mr Robinson said.
A Sinn Fein delegation led by Gerry Adams and deputy first minister Martin McGuinness is at Hillsborough Castle for Tuesday's meeting. "It has taken away the focus that we should have on other issues."
Before the DUP delegation went into the talks, DUP leader Peter Robinson set out in detail the issues surrounding policing and justice and parades. "As well as setting a date for the transfer of security responsibilities from London to Belfast, there is also the question of the adjudication of controversial loyal order parades in dispute with Sinn Fein."
The Sinn Fein delegation attending the talks is led by Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams and deputy first minister Martin McGuinness.
Mr Brown and Mr Cowen arrived in Belfast on Monday and held late night discussions with both parties.
The leaders also held private talks on Tuesday morning before meeting with the parties.
Speaking after Monday night's meeting broke up, a Downing Street spokesman said the talks were "hard going".
ANALYSIS Mark Simpson, BBC Ireland correspondentANALYSIS Mark Simpson, BBC Ireland correspondent
There's no prospect of a return to full-scale violence, but there is a full-scale political crisis.There's no prospect of a return to full-scale violence, but there is a full-scale political crisis.
The arrival in Northern Ireland of the two prime ministers is a sure sign that trouble is brewing. The blunt reality is there's no sign yet of any progress being made in the talks.The arrival in Northern Ireland of the two prime ministers is a sure sign that trouble is brewing. The blunt reality is there's no sign yet of any progress being made in the talks.
The equation is pretty simple - no deal means no devolution.The equation is pretty simple - no deal means no devolution.
If these talks don't succeed, it's difficult to see how the Stormont Assembly will survive. Q&A: Breakthrough or breakdown?If these talks don't succeed, it's difficult to see how the Stormont Assembly will survive. Q&A: Breakthrough or breakdown?
He said his party was "in for the long haul".
But he said that policing and justice was a "life and death" issue and that this, and the parades issues must be brought along together.
"At the end of the day, it will be the shape and content of the deal that will be the important factor," he said.
"We are not going to collapse anything. We are here for the long haul... whether it be a day or a month."
Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party - Northern Ireland's two biggest political parties - have been arguing for months over the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont.Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party - Northern Ireland's two biggest political parties - have been arguing for months over the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont.
Sinn Fein want the completion of devolution to happen as soon as possible, but the DUP argues there must be unionist "community confidence" before powers are put in the hands of local politicians.Sinn Fein want the completion of devolution to happen as soon as possible, but the DUP argues there must be unionist "community confidence" before powers are put in the hands of local politicians.
The "confidence" issue causing most division is over the handling of parades.The "confidence" issue causing most division is over the handling of parades.
The DUP wants to scrap the Parades Commission, which puts conditions on some of the most contentious marches, but Sinn Fein has accused the party of giving the Orange Order a talks veto.The DUP wants to scrap the Parades Commission, which puts conditions on some of the most contentious marches, but Sinn Fein has accused the party of giving the Orange Order a talks veto.
While Sinn Fein said it was still holding out for a firm devolution date, the DUP again insisted it required concessions on how loyalist order parades were managed before it agreed to the transfer. On Tuesday, Sinn Fein minister Conor Murphy insisted the crisis was real, rejecting DUP claims that Sinn Fein had contrived it.
On Tuesday, Sinn Fein minister Conor Murphy insisted the crisis was real, rejecting DUP MP Sammy Wilson's claim that Sinn Fein had contrived it.
Mr Wilson said: "It makes it darn more difficult in this atmosphere of crisis to get some kind of resolution - these things are much better done by people sitting down calmly, seeing where the problems are and what compromises can be made."
Sammy Wilson, DUP: "This is a contrived crisis"Sammy Wilson, DUP: "This is a contrived crisis"
But Mr Murphy argued: "It's not a contrived crisis. If it was contrived, I doubt that you would have the taoiseach, the British Prime Minister and the possibility of the Americans becoming involved." Mr Murphy said: "It's not a contrived crisis. If it was contrived, I doubt that you would have the taoiseach, the British prime minister and the possibility of the Americans becoming involved."
Mr Murphy said the US government was keeping a close watching brief and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had spoken to people involved in the discussions.Mr Murphy said the US government was keeping a close watching brief and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had spoken to people involved in the discussions.
It is understood that late on Monday night the two governments held private meetings with DUP and Sinn Fein negotiating teams, while senior party figures from the other parties were briefed on progress.It is understood that late on Monday night the two governments held private meetings with DUP and Sinn Fein negotiating teams, while senior party figures from the other parties were briefed on progress.
The Ulster Unionists, the SDLP and the Alliance Party were also at Hillsborough Castle.The Ulster Unionists, the SDLP and the Alliance Party were also at Hillsborough Castle.
Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward said the process was reaching an "endgame".
'Sword of Damocles''Sword of Damocles'
Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey, speaking as he left the talks, said the two premiers were making a "big effort".Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey, speaking as he left the talks, said the two premiers were making a "big effort".
"They wouldn't be here if they didn't think the situation was serious, but equally we have been here before," he said."They wouldn't be here if they didn't think the situation was serious, but equally we have been here before," he said.
"I have to stress conducting negotiations with the sword of Damocles hanging over your head is not the best way to do business.""I have to stress conducting negotiations with the sword of Damocles hanging over your head is not the best way to do business."
SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell said that aside from the issue of policing and justice the governments should address the "dysfunctionality" of the Northern Ireland Executive.SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell said that aside from the issue of policing and justice the governments should address the "dysfunctionality" of the Northern Ireland Executive.
The leaders cannot agree over the transfer of police powers to StormontThe leaders cannot agree over the transfer of police powers to Stormont
"We urged the prime minister and the taoiseach to ensure that since they've taken the bother to come here this time that they do it right, that there is not a cobbled solution that breaks down again in six months' time," he said. Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister, who opposes power-sharing with Sinn Fein, said the need for the talks at Hillsborough showed the system of government in Northern Ireland was not working.
Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister said the need for the talks at Hillsborough showed the system of government in Northern Ireland was not working.
"What they've got is a rigged perversion of democracy which can never work, because it is built on the empowerment by veto of a party, IRA/Sinn Fein, determined to prove Northern Ireland a failed political entity," he said."What they've got is a rigged perversion of democracy which can never work, because it is built on the empowerment by veto of a party, IRA/Sinn Fein, determined to prove Northern Ireland a failed political entity," he said.
Mr Brown has postponed Tuesday's cabinet meeting until later in the week.Mr Brown has postponed Tuesday's cabinet meeting until later in the week.
Talks between the DUP and Sinn Fein had intensified in recent weeks, before collapsing in acrimony last week.Talks between the DUP and Sinn Fein had intensified in recent weeks, before collapsing in acrimony last week.
If Sinn Fein were to decide Martin McGuinness should resign as deputy first minister, the joint nature of the roles of first and deputy first ministers would mean that DUP leader Peter Robinson would also be forced out of office, collapsing the executive.If Sinn Fein were to decide Martin McGuinness should resign as deputy first minister, the joint nature of the roles of first and deputy first ministers would mean that DUP leader Peter Robinson would also be forced out of office, collapsing the executive.
Are you in Northern Ireland? Do you think the talks will succeed? Send us your comments.Are you in Northern Ireland? Do you think the talks will succeed? Send us your comments.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions