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| Stormont deadline 'may now slip' | Stormont deadline 'may now slip' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Northern Ireland's devolution deadline may be allowed "to slip" for a few weeks if the parties agree to work together, Peter Hain has said. | Northern Ireland's devolution deadline may be allowed "to slip" for a few weeks if the parties agree to work together, Peter Hain has said. |
| The secretary of state had said the assembly would be dissolved if agreement was not reached by 26 March. | The secretary of state had said the assembly would be dissolved if agreement was not reached by 26 March. |
| It comes amid speculation that DUP leader Ian Paisley will hold his first talks with Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams. | It comes amid speculation that DUP leader Ian Paisley will hold his first talks with Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams. |
| The meeting would represent a policy shift away from the DUP's official policy of no contact with Sinn Fein. | The meeting would represent a policy shift away from the DUP's official policy of no contact with Sinn Fein. |
| Mr Hain told the BBC on Monday: "I've just had news overnight that Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams are meeting for the very first time in their lives - the DUP, the Democratic Unionist Party, and Sinn Fein. | Mr Hain told the BBC on Monday: "I've just had news overnight that Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams are meeting for the very first time in their lives - the DUP, the Democratic Unionist Party, and Sinn Fein. |
| "This is something that defies the word breakthrough, it's never happened before. | "This is something that defies the word breakthrough, it's never happened before. |
| "And if they do proceed, and if they have agreed or find a way of agreeing, then they will be able to lock in their own form of power-sharing government rather than me, as past governments have done, imposing something". | "And if they do proceed, and if they have agreed or find a way of agreeing, then they will be able to lock in their own form of power-sharing government rather than me, as past governments have done, imposing something". |
| He added: "I am not worried about a deadline going over a few weeks, if we have something that has never happened before." | He added: "I am not worried about a deadline going over a few weeks, if we have something that has never happened before." |
| Sir Reg said Mr Paisley was putting Mr Adams into a strong position | |
| An order signed by the NI secretary restarted devolution at midnight. | An order signed by the NI secretary restarted devolution at midnight. |
| The DUP has said it will enter government with Sinn Fein, but not until May. | The DUP has said it will enter government with Sinn Fein, but not until May. |
| Sinn Fein has accused the DUP of trying to "frustrate the will of the electorate". | Sinn Fein has accused the DUP of trying to "frustrate the will of the electorate". |
| Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said Mr Paisley was putting Mr Adams into a strong negotiating position. | Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said Mr Paisley was putting Mr Adams into a strong negotiating position. |
| "What is happening here is that Ian Paisley is preparing - and the trajectory of where he is going is quite clear - he is going into power with Sinn Fein," he said. | "What is happening here is that Ian Paisley is preparing - and the trajectory of where he is going is quite clear - he is going into power with Sinn Fein," he said. |
| The SDLP said Mr Hain had "caved in to the DUP". | |
| 'Bridge the gap' | 'Bridge the gap' |
| In the assembly election earlier this month, the DUP and Sinn Fein emerged as the two largest parties. | In the assembly election earlier this month, the DUP and Sinn Fein emerged as the two largest parties. |
| The British and Irish governments had said they would shut the assembly and stop the pay of its members if a power-sharing executive was not agreed on Monday. | The British and Irish governments had said they would shut the assembly and stop the pay of its members if a power-sharing executive was not agreed on Monday. |
| If devolution does not return, controversial water bills will also be posted to homes in Northern Ireland within days, said the government. | If devolution does not return, controversial water bills will also be posted to homes in Northern Ireland within days, said the government. |
| Chancellor Gordon Brown has promised an extra £1bn if devolution is back on Monday on top of £35bn promised by the government over four years. | Chancellor Gordon Brown has promised an extra £1bn if devolution is back on Monday on top of £35bn promised by the government over four years. |
| On Saturday, the DUP said it was willing to bridge the gap between now and May with preparatory work, "including departmental pre-briefings and finalising a programme for government". | On Saturday, the DUP said it was willing to bridge the gap between now and May with preparatory work, "including departmental pre-briefings and finalising a programme for government". |
| It said it wanted the extra time "to raise the level of confidence in the community and instil a positive attitude towards devolution and local control". | It said it wanted the extra time "to raise the level of confidence in the community and instil a positive attitude towards devolution and local control". |
| If a power-sharing executive is formed, it will have four DUP ministers, three Sinn Fein, two UUP and one SDLP. | If a power-sharing executive is formed, it will have four DUP ministers, three Sinn Fein, two UUP and one SDLP. |
| The Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended since October 2002, amid allegations of an IRA spy ring at Stormont. | The Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended since October 2002, amid allegations of an IRA spy ring at Stormont. |
| A subsequent court case collapsed. Direct rule has been in place since that date. | A subsequent court case collapsed. Direct rule has been in place since that date. |