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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| NI talks: Broad agreement is brokered on some key issues | NI talks: Broad agreement is brokered on some key issues |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A broad agreement has been brokered on some key issues in the cross-party Northern Ireland talks. | A broad agreement has been brokered on some key issues in the cross-party Northern Ireland talks. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron said he was delighted a workable agreement had been reached. | Prime Minister David Cameron said he was delighted a workable agreement had been reached. |
| Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said it "sets out a plan for financial and welfare reform." | Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said it "sets out a plan for financial and welfare reform." |
| The two main parties, the DUP and Sinn Fein have said they are recommending the proposals to their executives, but some other parties are disappointed. | |
| The document says legislation will be brought before the Northern Ireland Assembly next month to give effect to welfare changes, "alongside further work to develop and implement flexibilities and top-ups from the block grant as part of a package of measures to address local need". | |
| Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson said he would be recommending the document to his party executive. | |
| Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said the party's negotiations team would also be recommending the proposals to its Ard Chomairle [party executive]. | Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said the party's negotiations team would also be recommending the proposals to its Ard Chomairle [party executive]. |
| He said good progress had been made on Tuesday and that it must continue in the New Year. | He said good progress had been made on Tuesday and that it must continue in the New Year. |
| However, Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt said no party was able to give the agreed proposals 100% endorsement as "they all have their own processes", but he said he would ask his own party to give the agreement "a fair wind". | However, Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt said no party was able to give the agreed proposals 100% endorsement as "they all have their own processes", but he said he would ask his own party to give the agreement "a fair wind". |
| Alliance leader David Ford said he made it clear to the government that he would accept what was in the paper, but said it did not go far enough to meet the needs of Northern Ireland society. | Alliance leader David Ford said he made it clear to the government that he would accept what was in the paper, but said it did not go far enough to meet the needs of Northern Ireland society. |
| SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell said he believed the "deal falls short" and that he was disappointed the document was not as comprehensive as he hoped it would be. | SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell said he believed the "deal falls short" and that he was disappointed the document was not as comprehensive as he hoped it would be. |
| Analysis by BBC Ireland Correspondent Chris Buckler | |
| "A crisis has been averted. | |
| We have a broad agreement about a range of issues. | |
| I am led to ask the question, when is a deal actually a deal? Certainly, as far as the DUP are concerned, the Ulster Unionists and now Sinn Féin, as well, they all believe this is a good proposal. | |
| The SDLP and the Alliance are both sounding a note of caution. Alliance says it falls short of what is needed. The SDLP say they are disappointed. | |
| Although the crucial issue of cash has, for the moment, been sorted, there are other issues in this that probably haven't been fully addressed. | |
| The issue of the past, parading and the flying of flags in Northern Ireland, these are all crucial and very controversial issues. | |
| As far as flags and parades are concerned, we don't think that has been totally sorted. | |
| Until we see the fine detail of this deal, we won't know how much of an agreement this is and how much of agreement it isn't." | |
| He said the party was disappointed by parading proposals, while the measures on dealing with the legacy of the Troubles fell short of those put forward during last year's talks chaired by former US diplomat Richard Haass and Harvard professor Meghan O'Sullivan. | He said the party was disappointed by parading proposals, while the measures on dealing with the legacy of the Troubles fell short of those put forward during last year's talks chaired by former US diplomat Richard Haass and Harvard professor Meghan O'Sullivan. |
| But the Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers said it had been a good day. | But the Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers said it had been a good day. |
| She said a draft agreement for the parties had been put on the table taking on board many hours of discussions and that it was positively received. | She said a draft agreement for the parties had been put on the table taking on board many hours of discussions and that it was positively received. |
| She said it was a "genuine step forward" in progress on "some of the critical issues in Northern Ireland". | She said it was a "genuine step forward" in progress on "some of the critical issues in Northern Ireland". |
| It is understood the government has now increased its offer of financial assistance to £2bn, a mixture of loans and cash. | It is understood the government has now increased its offer of financial assistance to £2bn, a mixture of loans and cash. |
| The talks on welfare reform, the past, flags and parades have lasted 11 weeks. | The talks on welfare reform, the past, flags and parades have lasted 11 weeks. |