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Justice 'could be devolved soon' Justice 'could be devolved soon'
(about 3 hours later)
Policing and justice powers could be transferred to Northern Ireland in April if the DUP and Sinn Fein are able to reach a deal, the BBC understands.Policing and justice powers could be transferred to Northern Ireland in April if the DUP and Sinn Fein are able to reach a deal, the BBC understands.
Sinn Fein has now said talks with the DUP have ended and the basis for a deal exists. SF has now said talks with the DUP have ended and the basis for a deal exists.
However, any move is still dependent on DUP assembly members giving it their approval. The DUP MLA Edwin Poots said he is hopeful of an agreement by Friday. Any deal will need to have the agreement of DUP assembly members.
The party has said such a meeting would only take place when the DUP's outstanding issues were settled. The party was expected to hold a meeting on Thursday evening but it is understood that will not now happen.
Mr Poots also shed light on how long a public consultation promised by his party after any deal might take.
"One would anticipate that if we are going to go to the country, if we are going to seek their views on this matter, then that would certainly take up to a month."
Harvests
BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said: "Informed sources have told the BBC that if there is a deal the transfer of justice powers is likely to be in early April - possibly 12 April.BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said: "Informed sources have told the BBC that if there is a deal the transfer of justice powers is likely to be in early April - possibly 12 April.
"That's earlier than the May date previously predicted, there had been concerns that this date would fall too close to polling day in the Westminster elections.""That's earlier than the May date previously predicted, there had been concerns that this date would fall too close to polling day in the Westminster elections."
Earlier on Thursday, the Irish foreign minister said a deal to break the political deadlock was "very close".Earlier on Thursday, the Irish foreign minister said a deal to break the political deadlock was "very close".
Speaking at a business breakfast in London, Micheal Martin said he believed "we will have positive news soon".Speaking at a business breakfast in London, Micheal Martin said he believed "we will have positive news soon".
The US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton told a faith conference in Washington that the parties were "hammering out" agreement.The US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton told a faith conference in Washington that the parties were "hammering out" agreement.
She added: "They are discovering anew what the scripture urges us: 'Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap the harvests, if we do not give up'."She added: "They are discovering anew what the scripture urges us: 'Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap the harvests, if we do not give up'."
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.
ANALYSIS Mark Devenport, BBC NI political editor
At a breakfast meeting in London, the Irish foreign minister Micheal Martin told reporters that he thought a deal was very close.
Then the rumours went around Stormont that the first minister Peter Robinson had been having success in persuading the doubters within the DUP.
Two of 14 MLAs who voted against the proposals as they stood on Monday told the BBC that if their leader made it a "back me or sack me" vote, they would now back him.
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.
ANALYSIS Mark Devenport, BBC NI political editor
I thought Peter Robinson may return as first minister around the time of a deal, although I'm a bit surprised it happened in this period before it has been sorted out.
Some people are wondering if it's part of the choreography, whereby a report to the governments comes from the first and deputy ministers, with the symbolism of Mr Robinson standing alongside his colleague Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein.
The DUP leader's return as first minister will not necessarily make any difference to his ability to persuade the doubters within his own party, and we're still awaiting a possible meeting of the DUP assembly group after Monday's stormy meeting.
At the moment the UUP are trying to stick to a neutral position, while the TUV will undoubtedly oppose any deal. When the DUP moves into a consultation phase over the proposals, they'll no doubt try to sell it hard. However, at this stage there's no guarantee of support from other unionist groups.
"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."
ElectionElection
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 NI Executive collapsed.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 NI Executive collapsed.
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.