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| Deal over policing 'very close' | Deal over policing 'very close' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A deal to break the political deadlock over the devolution of policing and justice powers to NI is "very close", the Irish foreign minister has said. | A deal to break the political deadlock over the devolution of policing and justice powers to NI is "very close", the Irish foreign minister has said. |
| Speaking at a a business breakfast in London, Micheal Martin said he believed "we will have positive news soon". | |
| Talks between the British and Irish governments, Sinn Fein and the DUP have been going on for the last 10 days. | Talks between the British and Irish governments, Sinn Fein and the DUP have been going on for the last 10 days. |
| Mr Martin has co-hosted some of the talks at Hillsborough Castle with NI Secretary Shaun Woodward. | Mr Martin has co-hosted some of the talks at Hillsborough Castle with NI Secretary Shaun Woodward. |
| "A deal struck by the political leaders of Northern Ireland, and facilitated by the governments, is also an important demonstration that Northern Ireland is open for business," Mr Martin said. | "A deal struck by the political leaders of Northern Ireland, and facilitated by the governments, is also an important demonstration that Northern Ireland is open for business," Mr Martin said. |
| "In these difficult economic times it is imperative that the world sees the north as a politically stable and increasingly normalised society which has considerable investment potential. | "In these difficult economic times it is imperative that the world sees the north as a politically stable and increasingly normalised society which has considerable investment potential. |
| "Most importantly, a political agreement sends a clear message to those few who still want to undermine peace that they cannot - and will not - succeed." | "Most importantly, a political agreement sends a clear message to those few who still want to undermine peace that they cannot - and will not - succeed." |
| Election | Election |
| On Tuesday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown told Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey the government would call a snap NI Assembly election rather than just suspending the institutions if the talks failed and the Executive collpased. | On Tuesday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown told Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey the government would call a snap NI Assembly election rather than just suspending the institutions if the talks failed and the Executive collpased. |
| The relationship between Sinn Fein and the DUP - Northern Ireland's two biggest political parties - has been strained for some time because they disagree about the timetable for the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont. | The relationship between Sinn Fein and the DUP - Northern Ireland's two biggest political parties - has been strained for some time because they disagree about the timetable for 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 loyalist parades. | The "confidence" issue causing most division is over the handling of loyalist parades. |