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-29559226
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Theresa Villiers: Inter-party talks to begin 'next week' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Talks to try to solve outstanding political issues are expected to begin at Stormont next Thursday, the secretary of state has said. | |
Theresa Villiers set the date following the announcement a panel would be set up to examine a parade dispute in north Belfast. | Theresa Villiers set the date following the announcement a panel would be set up to examine a parade dispute in north Belfast. |
Theresa Villiers told BBC's The View programme she would chair most of the talks at Stormont. | Theresa Villiers told BBC's The View programme she would chair most of the talks at Stormont. |
Ms Villiers said there was no plan for an independent or American chair. | Ms Villiers said there was no plan for an independent or American chair. |
At the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham in September, the secretary of state said she would convene talks about outstanding political issues in Northern Ireland, including flags, parades and the past. | At the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham in September, the secretary of state said she would convene talks about outstanding political issues in Northern Ireland, including flags, parades and the past. |
"The parties have received an indication that I would like to see things start next Thursday but nothing has been finally decided," Ms Villiers told The View. | "The parties have received an indication that I would like to see things start next Thursday but nothing has been finally decided," Ms Villiers told The View. |
'No illusions' | |
"But certainly I would hope we could make a start on this process next week. | "But certainly I would hope we could make a start on this process next week. |
"A couple of days a week seems to be an important way forward, but we will be providing more details in due course. | "A couple of days a week seems to be an important way forward, but we will be providing more details in due course. |
"I think what I have proposed is a common sense way to try and make some progress towards settling the dispute." | "I think what I have proposed is a common sense way to try and make some progress towards settling the dispute." |
The secretary of state said she was "under no illusions" about how difficult the issues will be to fix. | |
Ms Villiers confirmed the Parades Commission would still be the body to make the determination on the Crumlin Road parade in 2015. | Ms Villiers confirmed the Parades Commission would still be the body to make the determination on the Crumlin Road parade in 2015. |
She also said the cost of policing nightly protests at Twaddell/Ardoyne was of "grave concern" and called for the demonstrations to come to an end. | |
"Finding a resolution in north Belfast is not going to be reached by having a protest each night," she said. | "Finding a resolution in north Belfast is not going to be reached by having a protest each night," she said. |
"I think it's time to suspend those protests and let the PSNI focus on community policing across Northern Ireland." | "I think it's time to suspend those protests and let the PSNI focus on community policing across Northern Ireland." |
Previous version
1
Next version