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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| NI parties try to break deadlock | NI parties try to break deadlock |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sinn Féin and the DUP are holding talks to try to break the deadlock which prevented Northern Ireland's executive from meeting over the summer. | Sinn Féin and the DUP are holding talks to try to break the deadlock which prevented Northern Ireland's executive from meeting over the summer. |
| The British and Irish governments said they were satisfied with Wednesday's independent report, which found the IRA's army council serves no function. | The British and Irish governments said they were satisfied with Wednesday's independent report, which found the IRA's army council serves no function. |
| However, the DUP wants more clarity from the republican leadership. | However, the DUP wants more clarity from the republican leadership. |
| First and deputy first ministers Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness are leading the DUP and Sinn Féin teams. | First and deputy first ministers Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness are leading the DUP and Sinn Féin teams. |
| It is expected the agenda will include the delay in devolving justice powers, the failure to hold executive meetings over the summer and Sinn Féin scepticism about the DUP's commitment to partnership government. | It is expected the agenda will include the delay in devolving justice powers, the failure to hold executive meetings over the summer and Sinn Féin scepticism about the DUP's commitment to partnership government. |
| The talks at Stormont Castle are expected to last about two hours. | The talks at Stormont Castle are expected to last about two hours. |
| The foundations for power-sharing between the DUP and Sinn Féin were laid at the St Andrews political deal of 2006, and the British and Irish governments identified May of this year as a target date for the transfer of justice powers. | |
| St Andrews Agreement | |
| But the DUP has insisted it will not budge until the circumstances are right. Sinn Féin has threatened to pull its ministers out of the Stormont cabinet if progress is not made soon. | But the DUP has insisted it will not budge until the circumstances are right. Sinn Féin has threatened to pull its ministers out of the Stormont cabinet if progress is not made soon. |
| 'Leadership relinquished' | 'Leadership relinquished' |
| In Wednesday's report given to the British and Irish governments, the Independent Monitoring Commission, which monitors Northern Ireland's paramilitary ceasefires, said the IRA had relinquished the leadership and structures it used during the Troubles. | In Wednesday's report given to the British and Irish governments, the Independent Monitoring Commission, which monitors Northern Ireland's paramilitary ceasefires, said the IRA had relinquished the leadership and structures it used during the Troubles. |
| It said it did not expect an announcement from the IRA that the army council will disband. | It said it did not expect an announcement from the IRA that the army council will disband. |
| In response, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the report would "provide reassurance and hope for everybody who wants to see this chapter of Northern Ireland's history closed". | In response, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the report would "provide reassurance and hope for everybody who wants to see this chapter of Northern Ireland's history closed". |
| "In the next few days, I will use all my efforts, working with the parties in Northern Ireland, to make sure that the devolution of policing and justice can go ahead and the final stages of the peace process will now be completed," he said. | "In the next few days, I will use all my efforts, working with the parties in Northern Ireland, to make sure that the devolution of policing and justice can go ahead and the final stages of the peace process will now be completed," he said. |
| However, Northern Ireland's first minister, the DUP leader Peter Robinson, said the unionist community "needs to be convinced by the republican leadership that the IRA is out of business for good". | However, Northern Ireland's first minister, the DUP leader Peter Robinson, said the unionist community "needs to be convinced by the republican leadership that the IRA is out of business for good". |
| Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said: "The issue of the IRA has been dealt with definitively - all concerns have been met (and) this issue is gone." | Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said: "The issue of the IRA has been dealt with definitively - all concerns have been met (and) this issue is gone." |