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| Stormont talks: Senior DUP figures to get devolution talks briefing | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Senior DUP figures, including MPs, are expected at Stormont later as discussions over the return of NI devolution continue. | |
| Talks between the parties, Secretary of State Julian Smith and Tánaiste Simon Coveney are ongoing. | |
| A number of DUP MPs returned from Westminster earlier than expected and will take part in internal party discussions on Thursday. | |
| It is three years since the executive collapsed. | |
| It fell apart in a bitter row between the DUP and Sinn Féin. | |
| The BBC understands that DUP MLAs will meet later on Thursday. | |
| One source said party activists expect to receive a briefing on what a potential talks deal looks like. | |
| It is understood the smaller parties were to be briefed on the draft deal on Wednesday but that has not yet happened. | |
| Mr Coveney said he had returned to Stormont for the talks, describing Thursday as an "important" day. | Mr Coveney said he had returned to Stormont for the talks, describing Thursday as an "important" day. |
| If devolution is not restored by Monday, a fresh assembly election could be called. | If devolution is not restored by Monday, a fresh assembly election could be called. |
| Northern Ireland has been without devolved government since January 2017. | Northern Ireland has been without devolved government since January 2017. |
| Proposed legislation for an Irish language act and reforming the petition of concern, the assembly's controversial veto system, are among the key sticking points in the ongoing talks. | Proposed legislation for an Irish language act and reforming the petition of concern, the assembly's controversial veto system, are among the key sticking points in the ongoing talks. |
| The DUP has been accused of holding up a deal. | The DUP has been accused of holding up a deal. |
| Sinn Féin Vice-President Michelle O'Neill said that Monday was a "real deadline" for the conclusion of the talks process. | Sinn Féin Vice-President Michelle O'Neill said that Monday was a "real deadline" for the conclusion of the talks process. |
| She added that Sinn Féin is willing to go back into an executive, but it has to be the way in which the late Martin McGuinness, her party's former deputy first minister, wanted it to happen. | She added that Sinn Féin is willing to go back into an executive, but it has to be the way in which the late Martin McGuinness, her party's former deputy first minister, wanted it to happen. |
| Mr McGuinness resigned as deputy first minister as a result of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme scandal. | Mr McGuinness resigned as deputy first minister as a result of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme scandal. |
| Mrs O'Neill said the party was always ready to go into a "just government" but that there would be "no return to the status quo". | Mrs O'Neill said the party was always ready to go into a "just government" but that there would be "no return to the status quo". |
| 'Enough negotiating' | 'Enough negotiating' |
| The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MLA, Mike Nesbitt, said it was time for the DUP and Sinn Féin to decide if they will return to power sharing. | The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MLA, Mike Nesbitt, said it was time for the DUP and Sinn Féin to decide if they will return to power sharing. |
| Mr Nesbitt said the parties had done enough negotiating and that a final call needed to be made. | Mr Nesbitt said the parties had done enough negotiating and that a final call needed to be made. |
| He added that the UUP had not been briefed or seen anything relating to the text of a draft deal. | He added that the UUP had not been briefed or seen anything relating to the text of a draft deal. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster Programme on Thursday morning, Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney said the situation is at the point where closure must be found. | Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster Programme on Thursday morning, Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney said the situation is at the point where closure must be found. |
| Analysis: BBC News NI political reporter Jayne McCormack | Analysis: BBC News NI political reporter Jayne McCormack |
| For the third day in a row this week there were late talks at Stormont. | For the third day in a row this week there were late talks at Stormont. |
| We know that things are at a critical stage. | We know that things are at a critical stage. |
| What we've heard from the two big parties in recent days is that they want to find common ground. | What we've heard from the two big parties in recent days is that they want to find common ground. |
| We know what the sticking points are but it's whether or not they believe that a deal can really be done. | We know what the sticking points are but it's whether or not they believe that a deal can really be done. |
| Our understanding is that all the parties went to Stormont House last night. | Our understanding is that all the parties went to Stormont House last night. |
| The DUP and Sinn Féin had meetings with the British and Irish governments but it's unknown if they were shown anything or briefed. | The DUP and Sinn Féin had meetings with the British and Irish governments but it's unknown if they were shown anything or briefed. |
| The smaller parties did not hear or see anything and they left Stormont House without that briefing but we are told they are coming back today expecting to see something. | The smaller parties did not hear or see anything and they left Stormont House without that briefing but we are told they are coming back today expecting to see something. |
| If there are two parties, on one hand, doing something and the other parties doing something else we know the problems that we had with that before. | If there are two parties, on one hand, doing something and the other parties doing something else we know the problems that we had with that before. |
| There may be some animosity from smaller parties who feel they are being left out again. | There may be some animosity from smaller parties who feel they are being left out again. |
| Talks deadline | Talks deadline |
| Since Stormont collapsed, civil servants have been running day-to-day operations - but have needed Westminster to pass some legislation for some areas they do not have powers over. | Since Stormont collapsed, civil servants have been running day-to-day operations - but have needed Westminster to pass some legislation for some areas they do not have powers over. |
| In July, the government extended a law that gives civil servants flexibility to take certain decisions, but that runs out on 13 January 2020. | In July, the government extended a law that gives civil servants flexibility to take certain decisions, but that runs out on 13 January 2020. |
| The government then has two options if devolution is still not restored. Either bring forward another new bill to push back the date, or call a fresh assembly election. | The government then has two options if devolution is still not restored. Either bring forward another new bill to push back the date, or call a fresh assembly election. |
| In the past, it has opted to pursue legislation but the current Secretary of State Julian Smith has insisted he will call another poll if the parties do not reach a breakthrough by 13 January. | In the past, it has opted to pursue legislation but the current Secretary of State Julian Smith has insisted he will call another poll if the parties do not reach a breakthrough by 13 January. |