This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25456712
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Haass proposals: DUP says agreement before Christmas unlikely | Haass proposals: DUP says agreement before Christmas unlikely |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson has said he believes agreement in the Haass talks before Christmas is unlikely. | The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson has said he believes agreement in the Haass talks before Christmas is unlikely. |
| A revised set of proposals on ways to deal with flags, parades and the past was given to the five parties on Thursday. | |
| The fresh set of recommendations by Richard Haass has caused serious concern amongst unionists. | |
| He is meeting representatives of the five main political parties on Friday for further discussions. | He is meeting representatives of the five main political parties on Friday for further discussions. |
| Dr Haass will meet the parties individually in the morning before holding round-table talks in the afternoon. | Dr Haass will meet the parties individually in the morning before holding round-table talks in the afternoon. |
| The former US diplomat's first set of proposals were rejected by unionists earlier this week and led to Dr Haass and his vice-chair Meghan O'Sullivan locking themselves away for 36 hours to prepare a new version, which was given to the parties on Thursday. | The former US diplomat's first set of proposals were rejected by unionists earlier this week and led to Dr Haass and his vice-chair Meghan O'Sullivan locking themselves away for 36 hours to prepare a new version, which was given to the parties on Thursday. |
| Unionists said on Thursday evening that they were unhappy with Dr Haass's second draft of proposals. | Unionists said on Thursday evening that they were unhappy with Dr Haass's second draft of proposals. |
| Mr Donaldson, who is part of the DUP's talks delegation, said he thought further dialogue in the new year would be needed. | Mr Donaldson, who is part of the DUP's talks delegation, said he thought further dialogue in the new year would be needed. |
| Importance | Importance |
| "I have to say there's still a few silly things in there that really do need to be taken out and there are still areas on which further progress is required," he said. | "I have to say there's still a few silly things in there that really do need to be taken out and there are still areas on which further progress is required," he said. |
| "We're prepared to work on for as long as it takes to resolve these issues because we recognise how important they are for the people of Northern Ireland." | "We're prepared to work on for as long as it takes to resolve these issues because we recognise how important they are for the people of Northern Ireland." |
| Sinn Féin's talks negotiator, Gerry Kelly, said "advances" had been made. | Sinn Féin's talks negotiator, Gerry Kelly, said "advances" had been made. |
| "We can make progress, but the political will needs to be there and this is an opportunity which we, certainly in Sinn Féin, and I would say all the parties, need not to lose, we'll not come back again easily, so we're up for finishing the job for the people in the north, and indeed throughout Ireland and Britain," he said. | "We can make progress, but the political will needs to be there and this is an opportunity which we, certainly in Sinn Féin, and I would say all the parties, need not to lose, we'll not come back again easily, so we're up for finishing the job for the people in the north, and indeed throughout Ireland and Britain," he said. |
| "These are the three toxic issues which have been hanging around for 15 years, we have an opportunity to sort them out and we're up for trying to do that." | "These are the three toxic issues which have been hanging around for 15 years, we have an opportunity to sort them out and we're up for trying to do that." |
| Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said: "Clearly we're at the point where you either say goodbye to a deadline or you say goodbye to an opportunity, and we don't want to say goodbye to the opportunity because it is still there. | Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said: "Clearly we're at the point where you either say goodbye to a deadline or you say goodbye to an opportunity, and we don't want to say goodbye to the opportunity because it is still there. |
| "There's a lot we don't like about this document, we think it's time to park flags because we're not going to agree that in this round, but there's still opportunity in parades and in dealing with the past, and let's see if we can get those over the line, which will give us the confidence to return to flags next year." | "There's a lot we don't like about this document, we think it's time to park flags because we're not going to agree that in this round, but there's still opportunity in parades and in dealing with the past, and let's see if we can get those over the line, which will give us the confidence to return to flags next year." |
| 'Real scope' | 'Real scope' |
| Alliance MP Naomi Long said her party had had a "very constructive round of discussions, both with Richard Haass and his team, and also with the other parties, really since yesterday". | Alliance MP Naomi Long said her party had had a "very constructive round of discussions, both with Richard Haass and his team, and also with the other parties, really since yesterday". |
| "We think that there is real scope for a deal to be done on these issues, but now is not the time to put the brakes on this process, it is the time to drive it forward and we think it's important that we maintain the momentum that we have and get this deal over the line. | "We think that there is real scope for a deal to be done on these issues, but now is not the time to put the brakes on this process, it is the time to drive it forward and we think it's important that we maintain the momentum that we have and get this deal over the line. |
| "Any business that can be done between Christmas and new year can just as readily be done, now, before Christmas." | "Any business that can be done between Christmas and new year can just as readily be done, now, before Christmas." |
| On Thursday, it was revealed that the flying of the Irish tricolour on government buildings in Northern Ireland had been ruled out by Dr Haass. | On Thursday, it was revealed that the flying of the Irish tricolour on government buildings in Northern Ireland had been ruled out by Dr Haass. |
| It is understood his proposals include a licensing system for the flying of flags, a trauma centre and new bodies for dealing with parading and the past. | It is understood his proposals include a licensing system for the flying of flags, a trauma centre and new bodies for dealing with parading and the past. |