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| Devolution deal is 'within reach' | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The government believes a deal to restore devolution to Northern Ireland is within reach, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has said. | |
| He was speaking after meeting PM Tony Blair in London. The DUP's Ian Paisley also met separately with Mr Blair. | |
| Mr Adams said he believed the government would not be found wanting whenever it came to providing a financial package for Northern Ireland. | |
| "This government know this could be the real breakthrough," he said. | |
| "Whatever about the fiscal amounts involved, there certainly is a realisation there that this could be it." | |
| Mr Adams, who also spoke with Chancellor Gordon Brown during his meeting, added: "He (Mr Brown) certainly did give the impression that there is an historic opportunity. | |
| "Given where we have all been in the recent past, we are now on the cusp of functioning, sustainable institutions coming into place and that he has a role to play in ensuring that is properly resourced." | |
| Northern Ireland's two main parties have until 26 March to agree to share power - or the London and Dublin governments will dissolve the Stormont Assembly. | |
| The meetings on Wednesday followed Northern Ireland questions and prime minister's question time in the Commons. | |
| Before his meetings with the party leaders, Mr Blair told the Commons that news of another fall in Northern Ireland's unemployment figures was a sign of changing times. | Before his meetings with the party leaders, Mr Blair told the Commons that news of another fall in Northern Ireland's unemployment figures was a sign of changing times. |
| "Over the past few years, there have been 100,000 extra jobs in Northern Ireland and a reduction of 30,000 in the number of unemployed," he said. | "Over the past few years, there have been 100,000 extra jobs in Northern Ireland and a reduction of 30,000 in the number of unemployed," he said. |
| "What was fascinating about the election was that the bread and butter issues - water charges, health, education, the local economy - were prominent on the doorstep." | "What was fascinating about the election was that the bread and butter issues - water charges, health, education, the local economy - were prominent on the doorstep." |
| Deadline | Deadline |
| The newly elected Northern Ireland Assembly met for the first time on Tuesday at Stormont. | The newly elected Northern Ireland Assembly met for the first time on Tuesday at Stormont. |
| The 108 members were asked to sign the register and select a voting designation, either unionist, nationalist or other. | The 108 members were asked to sign the register and select a voting designation, either unionist, nationalist or other. |
| The parties have until 26 March to agree a power-sharing executive or the British and Irish governments say they will shut the assembly and stop the pay of its members. | The parties have until 26 March to agree a power-sharing executive or the British and Irish governments say they will shut the assembly and stop the pay of its members. |
| If a power-sharing executive is formed it will have four DUP ministers, three Sinn Fein, two UUP and one SDLP. | If a power-sharing executive is formed it will have four DUP ministers, three Sinn Fein, two UUP and one SDLP. |
| The Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended since October 2002, amid allegations of an IRA spy ring at Stormont. A subsequent court case collapsed. Direct rule has been in place since that date. | The Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended since October 2002, amid allegations of an IRA spy ring at Stormont. A subsequent court case collapsed. Direct rule has been in place since that date. |