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Quick deal is 'unlikely' says DUP Quick deal is 'unlikely' says DUP
(10 minutes later)
The member of the Democrat Unionist Party talks team has said a deal is "unlikely" to be done on Wednesday. A member of the Democrat Unionist Party talks team has said a deal is "unlikely" to be done on Wednesday.
The British and Irish prime ministers are to host a third day of talks between the DUP and Sinn Fein in a bid save power-sharing in Northern Ireland.The British and Irish prime ministers are to host a third day of talks between the DUP and Sinn Fein in a bid save power-sharing in Northern Ireland.
The two parties have been at loggerheads over the devolution of policing and justice powers.The two parties have been at loggerheads over the devolution of policing and justice powers.
The British and Irish prime ministers were locked in meetings until shortly after 0600 GMT on Wednesday.The British and Irish prime ministers were locked in meetings until shortly after 0600 GMT on Wednesday.
Speaking to the BBC on Wednesday, DUP MP Edwin Poots said "good work" have been done, but there was still "considerable work" to do. Speaking to the BBC on Wednesday, DUP MP Edwin Poots said "good work" had been done, but there was still "considerable work" to do.
"If you are asking if a deal can be done, yes I believe a deal can be done," he said."If you are asking if a deal can be done, yes I believe a deal can be done," he said.
"Can a deal be done today or can it be done quickly? "Can a deal be done today, or can it be done quickly?
"That's probably unlikely, but it doesn't have to be a long time away if there is a will to do this deal.""That's probably unlikely, but it doesn't have to be a long time away if there is a will to do this deal."
BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport said that, while the mood had looked "good" at teatime on Tuesday, "during the course of the night things went much cooler when they started getting into the detail".BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport said that, while the mood had looked "good" at teatime on Tuesday, "during the course of the night things went much cooler when they started getting into the detail".
"The question is now, is it an adjournment or is it a breakdown?" he added"The question is now, is it an adjournment or is it a breakdown?" he added
Outstanding issuesOutstanding issues
A Downing Street spokesman said "there is scope for agreement" though the Irish government cautioned that "some outstanding issues remain".A Downing Street spokesman said "there is scope for agreement" though the Irish government cautioned that "some outstanding issues remain".
ANALYSIS Mark Devenport, BBC NI political editor We still know what the bare bones of any possible deal will be.ANALYSIS Mark Devenport, BBC NI political editor We still know what the bare bones of any possible deal will be.
It involves Sinn Fein getting their date for the transfer of justice powers, getting it this side of the election, and it involves some new structures for parading to deal with the DUPs concerns on that front.It involves Sinn Fein getting their date for the transfer of justice powers, getting it this side of the election, and it involves some new structures for parading to deal with the DUPs concerns on that front.
At about 2100 GMT on Tuesday we were beginning to get indications of a very good mood. The plenary session had gone very well.At about 2100 GMT on Tuesday we were beginning to get indications of a very good mood. The plenary session had gone very well.
But during the course of the night, things went much cooler when they start getting into the detail.But during the course of the night, things went much cooler when they start getting into the detail.
Gordon Brown has important engagements. He is meant to be meeting President Karzai of Afghanistan later, so he could be leaving late afternoon and handing it over to Secretary of State Shaun Woodward.Gordon Brown has important engagements. He is meant to be meeting President Karzai of Afghanistan later, so he could be leaving late afternoon and handing it over to Secretary of State Shaun Woodward.
The big question that raises is will that be enough for Sinn Fein or will they feel this is a breakdown? Q&A: Breakthrough or breakdown? Mark Devenport's blogThe big question that raises is will that be enough for Sinn Fein or will they feel this is a breakdown? Q&A: Breakthrough or breakdown? Mark Devenport's blog
Sinn Fein and the DUP - 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 DUP - 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 wants 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 wants 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.
'Willingness''Willingness'
On Tuesday, Mr Brown and Brian Cowen chaired meetings with representatives from the individual partiesOn Tuesday, Mr Brown and Brian Cowen chaired meetings with representatives from the individual parties
NI Secretary Shaun Woodward said there was a "willingness to make progress".NI Secretary Shaun Woodward said there was a "willingness to make progress".
Mr Woodward said all of Northern Ireland's party leaders had been able to contribute their views at a round-table session.Mr Woodward said all of Northern Ireland's party leaders had been able to contribute their views at a round-table session.
"There's a real spirit of cooperation, I think, a real willingness to want to make progress, to recognise just what is at stake in the talks."There's a real spirit of cooperation, I think, a real willingness to want to make progress, to recognise just what is at stake in the talks.
Acrimony
"I think it was a very constructive hour-and-a-quarter, there's real progress that can be made and we remain standing ready to help the parties in any way we can.""I think it was a very constructive hour-and-a-quarter, there's real progress that can be made and we remain standing ready to help the parties in any way we can."
Irish foreign minister Micheal Martin said: "It was a very constructive meeting and I think the taoiseach and prime minister are clear there is a real willingness to make progress on resolving the outstanding issues, and also to facilitate a new dynamic within the executive."Irish foreign minister Micheal Martin said: "It was a very constructive meeting and I think the taoiseach and prime minister are clear there is a real willingness to make progress on resolving the outstanding issues, and also to facilitate a new dynamic within the executive."
Acrimony The talks with the prime ministers began on Monday in an attempt to find agreement on the issues.
The talks began on Monday in an attempt to find agreement on the issues. Negotiations between the DUP and Sinn Fein had intensified in recent weeks, before collapsing in acrimony last week.
Mr Brown and Mr Cowen arrived in Belfast on Monday and held late-night discussions with both parties.
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.
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