British-Irish Council: NI ministers attending Isle of Man summit
Theresa Villiers says interparty talks reached turning point
(35 minutes later)
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Secretary of State Theresa Villiers are attending a British-Irish Council summit in the Isle of Man on Friday.
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers has said the session of the interparty talks on Wednesday may have been a turning point.
The Irish prime minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny and leaders from Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey will also be present.
She had previously said the chances of a deal were slim, but she said she was encouraged by the latest negotiations.
However, Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson will not attend the meeting.
Speaking at a summit in the Isle of Man, Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny said he and David Cameron planned to visit Northern Ireland.
His place will be taken by the Finance Minister Simon Hamilton.
He said his government's view on the talks remained optimistic.
Mr Robinson will not be attending the meeting, as an assembly investigation into him and his wife, Iris Robinson, is due to be published.
He said both he and Mr Cameron would visit Northern Ireland before Christmas.
The first and deputy first ministers had been expected to meet Nicola Sturgeon for the first time since she became Scotland's first minister.
A DUP source told the BBC that Mr Robinson had already spoken to Ms Sturgeon and has other engagements.
Economic growth and digital technology are among several issues expected to be discussed at the summit.
There is also likely to be interest in the inter-party talks at Stormont, as the British and Irish governments compile progress reports on the state of the ongoing discussions.
The British-Irish Council was established under the terms of the Good Friday peace agreement in 1998.
It is the only forum which includes UK, Irish and crown dependency governments.
