This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8492559.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
DUP problems 'holding up deal' Party totally behind leader - DUP
(about 8 hours later)
Internal difficulties within the DUP are holding up the devolution of policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland, the Alliance leader has said. The DUP has given "total support" to its leadership on outstanding issues over the devolution of justice powers, deputy leader Nigel Dodds has said.
Speaking after meeting Security Minister Paul Goggins, David Ford said it confirmed the impression of internal management issues within the DUP. However Mr Dodds did not deny a BBC report that 14 MLAs voted against the Hillsborough proposals in a secret ballot on Monday.
The DUP's Sammy Wilson declined to comment on whether or not there were party divisions at Monday's meeting. He said Peter Robinson was a "first class unionist leader" who enjoyed "full support" of the party.
It is now thought the talks could go on until the end of the week. Talks between the DUP and Sinn Fein may now go on until the end of the week.
An internal DUP meeting on Monday was said to have been stormy, with a secret ballot ending in a 60/40 split in favour of the deal.
Mr Dodds said "speculation and innuendo" was being peddled by "some sections of the media". He denied some members had threatened to resign.
Talks between his party and Sinn Fein appeared to end early afternoon on Tuesday, when the DUP negotiating team left Hillsborough.
The DUP's Sammy Wilson declined to comment on whether or not there were party divisions at his party's meeting on Monday.
ANALYSIS Martina Purdy, BBC NI political correspondent
It's clear that DUP leader Peter Robinson faces difficult and protracted discussions.
Not all the Stormont team attended Monday's meeting, but it is believed 14 assembly members rejected the proposals.
Feelings ran high around the parading proposals, amid claims they hadn't been pinned down.
There is little optimism that the deal can be rescued but efforts are continuing with further meetings between the DUP and Sinn Fein. Political Groundhog Day
"You have within any organisation your internal discussions (and) when you reach conclusions which impact on the public, then you go out and you give the outcome of those conclusions and that's what we did yesterday," Mr Wilson said."You have within any organisation your internal discussions (and) when you reach conclusions which impact on the public, then you go out and you give the outcome of those conclusions and that's what we did yesterday," Mr Wilson said.
On Monday evening, the DUP said some issues still needed to be resolved over a potential deal on policing and parades. At a press conference on Tuesday, Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey said his party was satisfied that a deal could be concluded and "needed to be concluded quickly to build on progress".
After a lengthy meeting of the DUP's assembly team, party sources said leader Peter Robinson was seeking unanimous support for a deal before moving ahead. Asked if Sinn Fein was under pressure from the two governments to facilitate the DUP, he said: "I don't believe we are under pressure from any quarter.
Both Sinn Fein and the DUP were back at Hillsborough Castle on Monday night. "Suffice to say that we fully understand that the people we all represent are very anxious that these institutions are stable, that they operate on the basis that everybody is an equal citizen and we do in here what we were elected to do."
Both parties indicated a deal was close. Mr Maskey refused to be drawn on speculation about internal difficulties within the DUP.
Sinn Fein and the DUP have been arguing over the timing of the transfer of justice powers to Belfast.Sinn Fein and the DUP have been arguing over the timing of the transfer of justice powers to Belfast.
Sinn Fein wants the powers transferred immediately.Sinn Fein wants the powers transferred immediately.
The DUP has said that can only happen when there is "community confidence" among unionists.The DUP has said that can only happen when there is "community confidence" among unionists.
BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport said: "If it is a case of the DUP simply having to take their politicians by the hand, take them through the details and persuade them that this is best deal possible, then maybe it is a case of being patient and having to sit back and wait for that process to end.
"The one thing they (the DUP) have on their side is that Sinn Fein has demonstrated its grave reluctance to use the so-called nuclear option. So maybe they will be given more days. But people must be getting exasperated."
The DUP and Sinn Fein said progress had been made in the negotiations
Earlier on Monday, the DUP assembly team met at Stormont.
The issue of parades came up as an unresolved issue with some DUP assembly members reportedly keen that a new appeals tribunal be set up, at least in shadow mode, in time for this summer's marching season.
However, it is thought to be unlikely that legislation could be passed to enable this to happen.
Sinn Fein sources also insisted they would not reopen the negotiations on the marching issue.
A DUP source said internal party talks had been fruitful and insisted "there was no issue that could not be resolved".
Plans for a return visit by the British and Irish prime ministers were put on hold as the DUP took longer on a negotiated package than anticipated.
The talks represent the longest period of sustained negotiations since the peace process began in the 1990s.The talks represent the longest period of sustained negotiations since the peace process began in the 1990s.