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| NI policing crisis talks continue | NI policing crisis talks continue |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Intensive talks aimed at averting the collapse of the devolved government in Northern Ireland over justice powers are continuing. | |
| The British and Irish prime ministers, Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen, have been meeting delegations from Sinn Fein and the DUP at Hillsborough Castle. | The British and Irish prime ministers, Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen, have been meeting delegations from Sinn Fein and the DUP at Hillsborough Castle. |
| It is thought the parties are studying a paper which could see powers devolved to NI before the expected May election. | |
| NI Secretary Shaun Woodward said talks would continue as long as necessary. | |
| 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. |
| Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Woodward said: "Talks have been going on throughout the day involving the prime minister and the Taoiseach - they have been actively and intensively engaged in a series of meetings with the leaders of all the political parties. | |
| "We don't intend to provide a running commentary on the content of those meetings or the ideas being exchanged in those meetings, except to say a lot of hard work is taking place and everyone is very conscious of their responsibilities in helping bring this to a successful outcome. | |
| "We will continue working for as long as necessary to help the parties here." | |
| Talks began on Monday in an attempt to find agreement on the issue. | |
| ANALYSIS Martina Purdy, BBC political correspondent | |
| The prime minister and the taioseach have met the Sinn Fein leadership and are due to meet the DUP. | |
| It is thought the parties have been examining a paper which could involve a date for the devolution of policing and justice powers before the expected May election and a process to deal with parades. | |
| A round-table session of all the parties is still expected. Q&A: Breakthrough or breakdown? | |
| Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin said the engagement between the parties had been "constructive and positive". | |
| "The governments are in listening mode, taking on board suggestion and ideas, as well as feedback on issues raised yesterday and this morning. | |
| "So far, we're working issue-by-issue, party-by-party - in terms of manifesting that desire for full participation and inclusion, there will be a meeting of all the parties at some stage in this process." | |
| Speaking before Tuesday's talks, DUP leader Peter Robinson said his party would not be pushed into a deal. | Speaking before Tuesday's talks, DUP leader Peter Robinson said his party would not be pushed into a deal. |
| However, he added that his party were there for the "long haul". | However, he added that his party were there for the "long haul". |
| "The issue of policing and justice has dogged us in the assembly," Mr Robinson said. | "The issue of policing and justice has dogged us in the assembly," Mr Robinson said. |
| "It has taken away the focus that we should have on other issues." | "It has taken away the focus that we should have on other issues." |
| "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." | "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. | 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. | 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 the parties. | The leaders also held private talks on Tuesday morning before meeting the parties. |
| Sinn Fein minister Conor Murphy insisted the crisis was real, rejecting DUP claims that it had been contrived by his party. | |
| Peter Robinson said that it was too early to know if a deal could be reached | Peter Robinson said that it was too early to know if a deal could be reached |
| Mr Murphy said: "It's not a contrived crisis. If it was contrived, I doubt that you would have the taoiseach (Irish prime minister), 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 (Irish prime minister), 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. |
| 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 & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |