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'Progress' being made at NI talks 'Progress' being made at NI talks
(40 minutes later)
The talks aimed at resolving the NI devolution impasse at Hillsborough Castle, outside Belfast, have been adjourned until Monday. Talks aimed at resolving the impasse over devolution in Northern Ireland have made "considerable progress", the government has said.
Delegations from Sinn Fein and DUP left the talks on Saturday evening saying "progress" had been made. But Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward said there was still "work to be done".
The DUP's Edwin Poots said there had been "considerable advancement", Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy said his party remained "optimistic". The DUP's Edwin Poots said there had been "considerable advancement", while Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy said his party remained "optimistic".
The talks began on Monday when the British and Irish PMs went to Belfast. The talks at Hillsborough Castle, outside Belfast, will resume on Monday.
At about 2000 GMT on Saturday, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Shaun Woodward said all involved in the negotiations needed some time off and that work would resume on Monday.
"We have made, across what has now been six days, very long days, I think considerable progress," he said.
"There remains more work to be done.
"I think we have clocked up something like 100 hours of talks, and it seems sensible at this point for us to allow people to go home, have a day off and to resume on Monday morning."
'Fine details'
Sinn Fein and the DUP have been arguing for months over the timing and circumstances of the transfer of policing and justice powers to Belfast.Sinn Fein and the DUP have been arguing for months over the timing and circumstances of the transfer of policing and justice powers to Belfast.
BBC NI reporter Yvette Shapiro said the gap between the two parties is believed to be getting smaller with the talks focusing on the "fine details".BBC NI reporter Yvette Shapiro said the gap between the two parties is believed to be getting smaller with the talks focusing on the "fine details".
Sinn Fein wants the powers transferred immediately, while the DUP has said that can only happen when there is "community confidence" among unionists.Sinn Fein wants the powers transferred immediately, while the DUP has said that can only happen when there is "community confidence" among unionists.
Micheal Martin and Shaun Woodward said "considerable progress" has been made
The largest unionist party said that confidence could be built through a deal on how to resolve the parading issue. However, republicans have maintained that devolution should not depend on agreement on parading.The largest unionist party said that confidence could be built through a deal on how to resolve the parading issue. However, republicans have maintained that devolution should not depend on agreement on parading.
On Wednesday, Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen said that if there was no deal within 48 hours, they would publish their own proposals. 'Very long days'
That deadline was allowed to pass with the parties still locked in discussions. The talks began on Monday when the British and Irish PMs went to Belfast.
'Creating certainty' The quality of the engagement by all of the parties has been the key determining factor Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin
Speaking outside Hillsborough Castle shortly before 1900 GMT on Saturday, Mr Poots said his party wanted to "conclude the business". On Wednesday, Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen said that if there was no deal within 48 hours, they would publish their own proposals, but that deadline was allowed to pass with the parties still locked in discussions.
At about 2000 GMT on Saturday, the parties emerged from Hillsborough and Mr Woodward said all involved needed some time off.
"We have made, across what has now been six days, very long days, I think considerable progress," he said. "There remains more work to be done."
For Sinn Fein, Mr Murphy, was also upbeat: "We are maybe getting somewhere now.
"We have progress made, we are hopeful that we can finish this fairly quickly. We are getting towards the point now where negotiations will end."
Speaking an hour earlier, Mr Poots said his party also wanted to "conclude the business".
"We are looking to tidy some things up tonight and there is some more work to be done on Monday," he said."We are looking to tidy some things up tonight and there is some more work to be done on Monday," he said.
"We have been working towards creating certainty and clarity about the issues."We have been working towards creating certainty and clarity about the issues.
Talks will resume at Hillsborough Castle on Monday
"It's more important about getting the right deal, as opposed to a hurried deal.""It's more important about getting the right deal, as opposed to a hurried deal."
An hour later, a Sinn Fein delegation came out to speak to the media. 'Not concerned'
Conor Murphy said they were "getting somewhere". The talks represent the longest period of sustained negotiations since the peace process began in the 1990s.
"Negotiations are coming to that final phase," he said. The negotiations are being led by Mr Woodward and Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin after the premiers left Northern Ireland on Wednesday.
"We intend to bring them to a swift conclusion. Mr Martin said he was not concerned that the deadline for a settlement had been missed.
"We have made progress and we are hopeful we can finish this fairly quickly." "Very experienced people have said to me deadlines have often been set with a purpose of being passed," he said.
The talks continued into their sixth day, the longest period of sustained negotiations since the peace process began in the 1990s. "The quality of the engagement by all of the parties has been the key determining factor this week."
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. Nationalist SDLP Assembly member Alex Attwood said: "Our sense is that those negotiations continue to move forward steadily and in a positive fashion."