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| PM finance meeting 'very useful' | PM finance meeting 'very useful' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers have described as "very useful" a meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Downing Street. | Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers have described as "very useful" a meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Downing Street. |
| They were pressing for financial aid ahead of the executive's first meeting in five months on Thursday. | They were pressing for financial aid ahead of the executive's first meeting in five months on Thursday. |
| Neither would be drawn on anything specific agreed in the meeting. | |
| First Minister Peter Robinson said: "We feel it is our first duty to report to our executive colleagues, and we are happy to be able to do that tomorrow." | First Minister Peter Robinson said: "We feel it is our first duty to report to our executive colleagues, and we are happy to be able to do that tomorrow." |
| The DUP leader and Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness were accompanied by Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy and Finance Minister Nigel Dodds. | The DUP leader and Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness were accompanied by Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy and Finance Minister Nigel Dodds. |
| On Tuesday, the DUP and Sinn Féin came to an agreement on the devolution of policing and justice powers. | On Tuesday, the DUP and Sinn Féin came to an agreement on the devolution of policing and justice powers. |
| The agenda for Wednesday's talks included the deferral of water charges, back pay for civil servants and the need for a package for people suffering as a result of the economic downturn which has left a massive hole in the Executive budget. | The agenda for Wednesday's talks included the deferral of water charges, back pay for civil servants and the need for a package for people suffering as a result of the economic downturn which has left a massive hole in the Executive budget. |
| On his way in to the talks, Mr Robinson said they needed the prime minister to give clarification. | On his way in to the talks, Mr Robinson said they needed the prime minister to give clarification. |
| "It's essential for us as an executive if we are meeting tomorrow and looking at wider issues of financial hardship that we know exactly where we stand on a whole range of issues," he said. | "It's essential for us as an executive if we are meeting tomorrow and looking at wider issues of financial hardship that we know exactly where we stand on a whole range of issues," he said. |
| 'Legacy of neglect' | 'Legacy of neglect' |
| Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin told reporters at Downing Street: "There has been a legacy of neglect and underfunding in relation to our water and sewerage services. | Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin told reporters at Downing Street: "There has been a legacy of neglect and underfunding in relation to our water and sewerage services. |
| "It is very important that the British government contributes to the resolution of these difficulties, which were effectively created by previous administrations." | "It is very important that the British government contributes to the resolution of these difficulties, which were effectively created by previous administrations." |
| Thursday's Executive meeting will discuss the first draft of a paper detailing measures to try to deal with the financial hardship being faced by many in Northern Ireland and will want to know how much money they will have available. | Thursday's Executive meeting will discuss the first draft of a paper detailing measures to try to deal with the financial hardship being faced by many in Northern Ireland and will want to know how much money they will have available. |
| They believe there has been movement from the prime minister already on the issue, but remains to be seen if this is enough. | They believe there has been movement from the prime minister already on the issue, but remains to be seen if this is enough. |