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| Parties set for crunch NI talks | Parties set for crunch NI talks |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Intensive multi-party negotiations aimed at brokering a deal to restore devolution to Northern Ireland are due to begin at Saint Andrews in Scotland. | Intensive multi-party negotiations aimed at brokering a deal to restore devolution to Northern Ireland are due to begin at Saint Andrews in Scotland. |
| Prime ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern will open the three-day talks. | Prime ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern will open the three-day talks. |
| The UK and Irish governments have given the parties until 24 November to reach a deal on power-sharing, otherwise the assembly may be put into cold storage. | The UK and Irish governments have given the parties until 24 November to reach a deal on power-sharing, otherwise the assembly may be put into cold storage. |
| Mr Blair said the talks were a "one-off opportunity" to build a lasting future for the province. | Mr Blair said the talks were a "one-off opportunity" to build a lasting future for the province. |
| "It is necessary, if we are going to make progress in Northern Ireland, to realise the issues aren't going to change," Mr Blair said. | "It is necessary, if we are going to make progress in Northern Ireland, to realise the issues aren't going to change," Mr Blair said. |
| "They are not going to change, they are not going to go away, they are still going to be there irrespective of what happens." | "They are not going to change, they are not going to go away, they are still going to be there irrespective of what happens." |
| Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said there was no longer any question that Ian Paisley's DUP will make a deal to restore devolution - only a question of when they will do it. | Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said there was no longer any question that Ian Paisley's DUP will make a deal to restore devolution - only a question of when they will do it. |
| Where the key players stand Search for elusive peace deal | Where the key players stand Search for elusive peace deal |
| However, addressing his party on Tuesday, Mr Adams said he did not know whether a deal would be done before the November deadline. | However, addressing his party on Tuesday, Mr Adams said he did not know whether a deal would be done before the November deadline. |
| "I do know that the question is no longer about whether the DUP will do a deal, the question is about when the DUP will do a deal," he said. | "I do know that the question is no longer about whether the DUP will do a deal, the question is about when the DUP will do a deal," he said. |
| "Our responsibility therefore is to do a deal with Ian Paisley, if he can be brought to that point, and if he cannot then the process continues without him." | "Our responsibility therefore is to do a deal with Ian Paisley, if he can be brought to that point, and if he cannot then the process continues without him." |
| Meanwhile, speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said there was no prospect of an amnesty for the so-called on the runs. | |
| The talks in Scotland come a week after the body monitoring paramilitary activity said the IRA had changed radically and some of its most important structures had been dismantled. | The talks in Scotland come a week after the body monitoring paramilitary activity said the IRA had changed radically and some of its most important structures had been dismantled. |
| Mr Blair said at that time the IRA's campaign was over and there was a "unique opportunity" to reach a final settlement. | Mr Blair said at that time the IRA's campaign was over and there was a "unique opportunity" to reach a final settlement. |
| The focus is on Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams | The focus is on Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams |
| The government hopes the report will help its efforts to restore devolution. | The government hopes the report will help its efforts to restore devolution. |
| The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended on 14 October 2002 amid allegations of a republican spy ring at Stormont. | The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended on 14 October 2002 amid allegations of a republican spy ring at Stormont. |
| The court case that followed collapsed and one of those charged, Denis Donaldson, later admitted working as a British agent. | The court case that followed collapsed and one of those charged, Denis Donaldson, later admitted working as a British agent. |
| Direct rule from London was restored in October 2002 and has been in place since. | Direct rule from London was restored in October 2002 and has been in place since. |
| On 15 May this year, Northern Ireland's politicians took their seats in the Stormont assembly. | On 15 May this year, Northern Ireland's politicians took their seats in the Stormont assembly. |
| The government hoped recalling the politicians would help to pave the way towards a deal in the autumn. | The government hoped recalling the politicians would help to pave the way towards a deal in the autumn. |
| A Preparation for Government Committee was set up to identify obstacles to the return of devolution. It met over the summer months. | A Preparation for Government Committee was set up to identify obstacles to the return of devolution. It met over the summer months. |