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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Talks 'to continue for 48 hours' | Talks 'to continue for 48 hours' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The BBC understands that talks on policing and justice will continue at Stormont for another two days. | The BBC understands that talks on policing and justice will continue at Stormont for another two days. |
| Gordon Brown, who is preparing to leave NI, is due to give a news conference in which he will say that a "pathway to agreement" has been achieved. | Gordon Brown, who is preparing to leave NI, is due to give a news conference in which he will say that a "pathway to agreement" has been achieved. |
| Sources indicated that the government believed 80% of a deal between the DUP and Sinn Fein has been done. | Sources indicated that the government believed 80% of a deal between the DUP and Sinn Fein has been done. |
| The parties have been at loggerheads over the devolution of policing and justice powers. | The parties have been at loggerheads over the devolution of policing and justice powers. |
| It is understood that Mr Brown will argue that progress has been made. | It is understood that Mr Brown will argue that progress has been made. |
| BBC deputy political editor James Landale said: "He will argue that progress has been made in getting the parties round the table, securing agreement from all sides that a deal has to be reached, and that real progress has been made on the substance of the disagreements". | BBC deputy political editor James Landale said: "He will argue that progress has been made in getting the parties round the table, securing agreement from all sides that a deal has to be reached, and that real progress has been made on the substance of the disagreements". |
| Our correspondent added that the British and Irish governments will say they have "shoved these talks in the right direction and it's up to the parties in Northern Ireland to complete the discussions." | Our correspondent added that the British and Irish governments will say they have "shoved these talks in the right direction and it's up to the parties in Northern Ireland to complete the discussions." |
| It is not yet clear whether this will be enough to satisfy Sinn Fein. | It is not yet clear whether this will be enough to satisfy Sinn Fein. |
| After the press conference by the prime minister and taoiseach, Secretary of State Shaun Woodward and Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin are expected to hold a plenary session with all the parties involved. | |
| 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. |
| Division | Division |
| 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. |
| Earlier on Wednesday, a member of the DUP talks team said a deal was "unlikely" to be done quickly. | Earlier on Wednesday, a member of the DUP talks team said a deal was "unlikely" to be done quickly. |
| Speaking to the BBC, DUP MP Edwin Poots said "good work" had been done, but there was still "considerable work" to do. | Speaking to the BBC, 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." |
| The talks with the prime ministers began on Monday. | The talks with the prime ministers began on Monday. |
| Negotiations between the DUP and Sinn Fein had intensified in recent weeks, before collapsing in acrimony last week. | Negotiations between the DUP and Sinn Fein had intensified in recent weeks, before collapsing in acrimony last week. |
| If Sinn Fein were to decide that not enough progress had been made and that Martin McGuinness should resign as deputy first minister of Northern's Ireland devolved executive then the executive would collapse. | If Sinn Fein were to decide that not enough progress had been made and that Martin McGuinness should resign as deputy first minister of Northern's Ireland devolved executive then the executive would collapse. |
| 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 |