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Premiers could return to NI talks Premiers could return to NI talks
(29 minutes later)
There is growing speculation that the British and Irish premiers are preparing to return to NI.There is growing speculation that the British and Irish premiers are preparing to return to NI.
However, it is thought Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen will only return if the DUP and Sinn Fein are close to finalising a deal on devolving policing and justice.However, it is thought Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen will only return if the DUP and Sinn Fein are close to finalising a deal on devolving policing and justice.
Parties in Northern Ireland were given until Friday afternoon to reach a deal over justice powers before the two governments publish proposals.Parties in Northern Ireland were given until Friday afternoon to reach a deal over justice powers before the two governments publish proposals.
Talks continued until 0500 GMT at Hillsborough and resumed mid-morning.Talks continued until 0500 GMT at Hillsborough and resumed mid-morning.
Deadlock remains over the timing of the power transfer and the handling of parades.Deadlock remains over the timing of the power transfer and the handling of parades.
There is a heavy security presence around the talks venue amid the speculation that the premiers could return if a deal is done.There is a heavy security presence around the talks venue amid the speculation that the premiers could return if a deal is done.
Mark Durkan said that the parties were on the threshold of either devolution or a "big mess".
SDLP leader Mark Durkan said that the parties were on the threshold of either completed devolution or a "big mess".SDLP leader Mark Durkan said that the parties were on the threshold of either completed devolution or a "big mess".
"We have had the outbursts here all week, but what we need are the outcomes and that's what we want to get today," he said.
Meanwhile, the US Envoy to Northern Ireland has warned of serious economic consequences if politicians fail to reach agreement.
Declan Kelly said the consequences for the Northern Ireland economy would be serious in the short and long term if no deal emerged from the Hillsborough talks.
But Mr Kelly added that the US administration believed the parties were "tantalisingly close" to a deal and was hopeful and optimistic they would find an accommodation.
ANALYSIS Mark Devenport, BBC NI political editorANALYSIS Mark Devenport, BBC NI political editor
I'm wary about making any pronouncements about what the mood is like at the talks. On Tuesday night, it looked like all systems go for a deal then the next day things fell apart.I'm wary about making any pronouncements about what the mood is like at the talks. On Tuesday night, it looked like all systems go for a deal then the next day things fell apart.
However, on Thursday evening sources were saying serious and genuine work was going on. Whether the politicians felt chastened over public anger over their failure to do a deal, I'm not sure.However, on Thursday evening sources were saying serious and genuine work was going on. Whether the politicians felt chastened over public anger over their failure to do a deal, I'm not sure.
I'm not aware of any specific time set for a deadline but the governments will have to make a call on whether to publish their proposals.I'm not aware of any specific time set for a deadline but the governments will have to make a call on whether to publish their proposals.
They will be reluctant to publish because that would mean acceptance no deal has been reached.They will be reluctant to publish because that would mean acceptance no deal has been reached.
Read Mark Simpson's analysisRead Mark Simpson's analysis
"We have had the outbursts here all week, but what we need are the outcomes and that's what we want to get today," he said.
Meanwhile, the US Envoy to Northern Ireland has warned of serious economic consequences if politicians fail to reach agreement.
Declan Kelly said the consequences for the Northern Ireland economy would be serious in the short and long term if no deal emerged from the Hillsborough talks.
But Mr Kelly added that the US administration believed the parties were "tantalisingly close" to a deal and was hopeful and optimistic they would find an accommodation.
He revealed that the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has been playing a role in telephone diplomacy and has been kept up to date on an hour-by-hour basis with the progress of the negotiations.He revealed that the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has been playing a role in telephone diplomacy and has been kept up to date on an hour-by-hour basis with the progress of the negotiations.
It was also revealed on Thursday night that the Orange Order hosted secret talks between the DUP and UUP at the end of last year, aimed at promoting unionist unity during elections and preventing Sinn Fein becoming the biggest political party in Northern Ireland.It was also revealed on Thursday night that the Orange Order hosted secret talks between the DUP and UUP at the end of last year, aimed at promoting unionist unity during elections and preventing Sinn Fein becoming the biggest political party in Northern Ireland.
The issue of controversial Orange Order parades has caused friction in the negotiations, with Sinn Fein complaining that the DUP had made the abolition of the Parades Commission a "pre-condition" to a deal on policing and justice.The issue of controversial Orange Order parades has caused friction in the negotiations, with Sinn Fein complaining that the DUP had made the abolition of the Parades Commission a "pre-condition" to a deal on policing and justice.
On Thursday, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams reiterated that devolution of policing and justice could not be linked to the parades issue.On Thursday, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams reiterated that devolution of policing and justice could not be linked to the parades issue.
"Anybody who thinks that the price of policing and justice is a walk down the Garvaghy Road or Ardoyne is just ridiculous," he said."Anybody who thinks that the price of policing and justice is a walk down the Garvaghy Road or Ardoyne is just ridiculous," he said.
DUP MLA Sammy Wilson said that his party was focused on addressing the parading issue and added there needed to be a mechanism in place to resolve parade disputes at "a local level".DUP MLA Sammy Wilson said that his party was focused on addressing the parading issue and added there needed to be a mechanism in place to resolve parade disputes at "a local level".
The negotiations are being led by Secretary of State Shaun Woodward and Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin after the premiers left Northern Ireland on Wednesday without a deal.The negotiations are being led by Secretary of State Shaun Woodward and Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin after the premiers left Northern Ireland on Wednesday without a deal.
Mr Brown and Mr Cowen said they believed there was a "firm basis" for the parties to set a date in early May for the devolution of policing and justice and to "enhance the existing framework to deal more effectively with contentious parades".Mr Brown and Mr Cowen said they believed there was a "firm basis" for the parties to set a date in early May for the devolution of policing and justice and to "enhance the existing framework to deal more effectively with contentious parades".