Leaders' separate Taoiseach talks

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7675349.stm

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First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness are to have separate meetings in Dublin later with Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

The stand-off between the Sinn Fein and the DUP over the devolution of policing and justice powers will be discussed.

Mr Robinson will be accompanied at the talks by DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds.

Mr Robinson said they will have wide-ranging discussions, going beyond the party's current stand-off with Sinn Fein.

"I think we want to talk to Brian Cowen about issues relating to the economy," Mr Robinson said.

"We'll also want to talk about matters we might have got a chance to speak about if there had of been a north-south ministerial meeting.

"I'm sure he'll want to get some idea of how we're going to resolve the difficulties we're having at the present time."

The meeting is Mr Robinson's first with Mr Cowen in Dublin since the two men became first minister and taoiseach respectively.

Irish government sources told the BBC they will discuss the deadlock at Stormont, north-south issues and co-operation in the face of the ongoing global financial crisis

A Sinn Fein source said on Thurdsay night he did not think the Dublin talks were make or break and discussions with the DUP to resolve current problems were ongoing.