This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-30422308
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 6 | Version 7 |
---|---|
NI talks: David Cameron says people want politicians to deliver | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The people of Northern Ireland want to see their politicians deliver, the prime minister has said. | |
David Cameron said he was "always an optimist" and remained so as he prepared to join cross-party talks at Stormont House in Belfast. | |
He and Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny are hoping to secure agreement in the talks concerning disputes on flags, parades, the past and welfare reform. | |
Mr Cameron said he hoped an agreement could be reached. | |
Speaking before he went into the talks on Thursday afteroon, Mr Cameron said: "I think everyone in Northern Ireland wants the same thing; an economy that grows; politics that work and a society that gets stronger." | |
The prime minister said "huge progress" had been made in recent years. | |
But he said politicians had to show that they could resolve the issues. | |
"The people outside that room - they are the people who matter and they want to see their politicians deliver," he said. | |
"I hope agreement can be reached and that is why I am here today." | |
The Irish prime minister said he understood the mood at the talks was good and progress had been made. | |
Speaking as he went into the talks room at Stormont, Mr Kenny said: "We look forward to fruitful discussion." | |
Earlier, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said there could be "no big cheque" to solve Northern Ireland's problems. | |
Speaking ahead of the prime minsters' arrival, Ms Villiers said resolutions needed to be found, but there was no promise of money. | Speaking ahead of the prime minsters' arrival, Ms Villiers said resolutions needed to be found, but there was no promise of money. |
"These issues are causing real tension and hindering the effectiveness of the devolved executive," she said. | "These issues are causing real tension and hindering the effectiveness of the devolved executive," she said. |
"But the solution to the problems of Northern Ireland cannot be a big cheque from the Exchequer, that money is not there." | "But the solution to the problems of Northern Ireland cannot be a big cheque from the Exchequer, that money is not there." |
The Stormont parties have been talking about the possibility of a new Peace Investment Fund worth hundreds of millions of pounds. | The Stormont parties have been talking about the possibility of a new Peace Investment Fund worth hundreds of millions of pounds. |
Ms Villiers said the UK government had inherited the biggest deficit in the developed world so it was no longer possible to throw money at a problem to try to resolve it . | Ms Villiers said the UK government had inherited the biggest deficit in the developed world so it was no longer possible to throw money at a problem to try to resolve it . |
She also said it was important to make progress on sensitive matters because it would become much more difficult to resolve them closer to a general election. | She also said it was important to make progress on sensitive matters because it would become much more difficult to resolve them closer to a general election. |
She said addressing budgetary issues was important in order to stop "increasing chaos". | She said addressing budgetary issues was important in order to stop "increasing chaos". |
The Northern Ireland secretary said addressing community division would "choke off" any terrorist support and "make life harder for the small minority who want to pursue aims by terrorist means." | |
Writing in Thursday's Belfast Telegraph, Mr Cameron said both he and Mr Kenny would be "pushing hard" to bring the talks to a successful conclusion. | Writing in Thursday's Belfast Telegraph, Mr Cameron said both he and Mr Kenny would be "pushing hard" to bring the talks to a successful conclusion. |
"This week I am in Northern Ireland to participate directly in the cross-party talks that are now in their ninth week at Stormont," Mr Cameron said. | "This week I am in Northern Ireland to participate directly in the cross-party talks that are now in their ninth week at Stormont," Mr Cameron said. |
"These talks have reached a crucial phase. As prime minister I am determined to do everything I can to help resolve outstanding issues and secure agreement across a range of vitally important issues. | "These talks have reached a crucial phase. As prime minister I am determined to do everything I can to help resolve outstanding issues and secure agreement across a range of vitally important issues. |
"I know that An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, fully shares that strong commitment. | "I know that An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, fully shares that strong commitment. |
"That is why the UK government, along with our very close colleagues in the Irish government, will be pushing hard to bring these discussions to a successful conclusion this week. I am confident, too, that Northern Ireland's political leaders share a genuine desire to reach an agreement." | "That is why the UK government, along with our very close colleagues in the Irish government, will be pushing hard to bring these discussions to a successful conclusion this week. I am confident, too, that Northern Ireland's political leaders share a genuine desire to reach an agreement." |
Analysis: Mark Devenport BBC NI News political editor | Analysis: Mark Devenport BBC NI News political editor |
Prime ministers used to be regular participants in Northern Ireland talks, but David Cameron has tended to leave the oversight of the political process here to his secretaries of state. | Prime ministers used to be regular participants in Northern Ireland talks, but David Cameron has tended to leave the oversight of the political process here to his secretaries of state. |
So his arrival at the negotiating table is proof that the stakes are high. | So his arrival at the negotiating table is proof that the stakes are high. |
Writing in the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Cameron acknowledges that the issues to be dealt with from finance to the legacy of the Troubles are difficult. | Writing in the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Cameron acknowledges that the issues to be dealt with from finance to the legacy of the Troubles are difficult. |
But he says the time has arrived for the Stormont politicians and the British and Irish governments to step up to the plate. | But he says the time has arrived for the Stormont politicians and the British and Irish governments to step up to the plate. |
Mr Cameron has discussed the outstanding problems in a phone call with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny. | Mr Cameron has discussed the outstanding problems in a phone call with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny. |
Mr Kenny said he believes that with renewed effort a deal can be reached which will offer a better future. | Mr Kenny said he believes that with renewed effort a deal can be reached which will offer a better future. |
The Irish minister for foreign affairs, Charlie Flanagan, has halted his involvement in a state visit to China by Irish president Michael D Higgins, to attend the talks. | The Irish minister for foreign affairs, Charlie Flanagan, has halted his involvement in a state visit to China by Irish president Michael D Higgins, to attend the talks. |
Mr Flanagan and Ms Villiers have been hosting a series of meetings over the past two months on the key issues. | Mr Flanagan and Ms Villiers have been hosting a series of meetings over the past two months on the key issues. |
It is understood a document of proposals has now been given to the political parties. | It is understood a document of proposals has now been given to the political parties. |
A previous effort to find new mechanisms to deal with the issues of flags, parades, and the legacy of the Troubles ended without agreement last Christmas. | A previous effort to find new mechanisms to deal with the issues of flags, parades, and the legacy of the Troubles ended without agreement last Christmas. |