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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
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| NI talks: David Cameron says people want politicians to deliver | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "I hope agreement can be reached and that is why I am here today." |
| 'Special problems' | |
| The Irish prime minister said he understood the mood at the talks was good and progress had been made. | 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." | Speaking as he went into the talks room at Stormont, Mr Kenny said: "We look forward to fruitful discussion." |
| Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said also said he was hopeful for a solution but said many of the issues to be tackled were financial. | |
| His said Northern Ireland faced "very particular and special problems" and added his party was going into the talks to "make the case that this place is different". | |
| "This is not the north of England, this is not London, this isn't Scotland and this isn't Wales," Mr McGuinness said. | |
| "We are a society emerging from conflict and the legacy of all of that has posed huge problems for our executive, not least in terms of how we bring our community together, how we built a united community, how we increase sharing within education, how we deal with the whole reconciliation process. | |
| "Special problems that aren't faced by any other region in these islands," he added. | |
| 'No promise of money' | |
| Earlier, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said there could be "no big cheque" to solve Northern Ireland's problems. | 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 . |
| 'Increasing chaos' | |
| 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." | 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." |