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Robinson challenges SF 'fig leaf' Assembly issues 'can be resolved'
(about 3 hours later)
The NI First Minister has said he is happy to have an executive meeting on Thursday with an "open agenda". Issues which have prevented the Northern Ireland Executive meeting since June can be resolved, the first and deputy first ministers have said.
Peter Robinson said he wanted to "remove the fig leaf" of Sinn Féin's claim that he only wanted to discuss issues that were important to the DUP. Both Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness have said they wanted to overcome the current difficulties.
Earlier, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said the meeting could not take place if his party was going to play "second fiddle" to the DUP. Earlier, Mr Robinson had said he would be happy for an executive meeting scheduled for Thursday to take place.
The executive has not met since June because of the dispute. However, Mr McGuinness said it was still "highly unlikely" it would happen.
"The only reasons that they have publicly given for the executive not meeting are that the agenda is in some way being constrained," said Mr Robinson. "This isn't something we are going to fall out about, he said.
"I am saying we can have an open agenda, we can deal with whatever issues, including policing and justice, which can be raised at the executive table if they wish." "I don't believe we are people who are gong to give up on the process. We are going to continue to work to find a way through.
Before Mr Robinson made his comments, Mr McGuinness said there could not be "an unbalanced approach to the executive." "I don't think that there is anything in either of us which is about to give up on these issues, they are difficult."
"It needs to be an agenda that faces up to all of the issues. Not a unionist agenda, not a DUP agenda, but an agenda that is built on partnership and equality." Mr Robinson said neither parties would give up on the outstanding issues, which include the devolution of policing and justice powers to the executive.
BBC NI's political correspondent Gareth Gordon said the response from a Sinn Féin source to Mr Robinson's offer was that it "wasn't practical, what was needed was agreement between the first and deputy first minister on what papers should go forward." "The only way of resolving them is through dialogue, discussion and negotiation," he said.
The two ministers have appeared together in front of a Stormont committee on Wednesday afternoon to discuss work carried out by the Office of First and Deputy First Ministers. "Because this is a four party coalition, we want to have the thoughts and views of the other parties."
Both men appeared together at an assembly committee meeting on Wednesday.
Earlier, Mr Robinson said he would have been happy to have an executive meeting with an open agenda.
However, a Sinn Féin source told the BBC that the offer was "not practical" and "what was needed was agreement between the first and deputy first minister on what papers should go forward".