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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Paisley and Adams at talks table | Paisley and Adams at talks table |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| DUP leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams are due to attend a meeting of the Preparation for Government Committee. | DUP leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams are due to attend a meeting of the Preparation for Government Committee. |
| They will be joined by other party leaders at Stormont. | They will be joined by other party leaders at Stormont. |
| The committee's job will be to consider changes to the Stormont rules and to agree priorities for the executive scheduled to take power next March. | The committee's job will be to consider changes to the Stormont rules and to agree priorities for the executive scheduled to take power next March. |
| The committee met several times over the summer, but Tuesday's meeting is being seen as far more significant. | The committee met several times over the summer, but Tuesday's meeting is being seen as far more significant. |
| On Monday, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said it would be the first of regular meetings of the committee to agree priorities for the executive. | |
| "Crucially, parties will for the first time together be represented at leadership level on that committee," Mr Hain said. | "Crucially, parties will for the first time together be represented at leadership level on that committee," Mr Hain said. |
| 'Sworn enemy' | |
| The Northern Ireland parties have been given until 10 November to respond to what the governments are calling the St Andrews Agreement. | The Northern Ireland parties have been given until 10 November to respond to what the governments are calling the St Andrews Agreement. |
| It was published after intensive three-day talks between the parties at St Andrews in Scotland. | It was published after intensive three-day talks between the parties at St Andrews in Scotland. |
| BBC Northern Ireland political correspondent Gareth Gordon said Mr Paisley had "spent a lifetime viewing Sinn Fein as his sworn enemy". | |
| "But this afternoon he'll sit round a table with Gerry Adams... the first step on a road which could see him sharing power with republicans in just five months. | |
| "It will be intriguing to see how both leaders handle an encounter which, for many years, seemed unimaginable." | |
| If all goes to plan a first and deputy first minister will be nominated on 24 November and the devolved institutions will be up and running by 26 March. | If all goes to plan a first and deputy first minister will be nominated on 24 November and the devolved institutions will be up and running by 26 March. |