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| David Cameron leaves NI talks without a deal but promises 'financial fire power' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| David Cameron has left talks at Stormont in Northern Ireland saying a deal was not possible but he had offered "financial fire power" for one. | |
| The prime minister said he was putting what would amount to "almost £1bn of spending power for the coming years" if agreement could be reached. | |
| Earlier, Sinn Féin accused him of acting as a penny pinching accountant. | |
| His financial offer for Northern Ireland was derisory, John O'Dowd said. | |
| Speaking just before he left, the prime minister said good progress had been made. | |
| "A deal is possible because parties have done a lot of good work on parades, the past and flying flags. The real work that needs to be done is to make sure the budget of the Northern Ireland Executive is sustainable. | |
| "What needs to happen is substantive agreement on these issues. | |
| "We can't have agreement that is simply some words about these issues and then help with taxpayers' money from the UK." | |
| The prime minister said any deal had to properly address the issues. | |
| Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he believed the document put in front of the political parties on Thursday night addressed all of the issues. | |
| He said the Irish and British governments would continue to be available to the parties, but that he believed the Northern Ireland politicians would be able to "conclude the outstanding issues". | |
| As Mr Cameron and Mr Kenny prepared to leave Stormont House, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams tweeted: "Two governments exiting after most amateurish, ham-fisted episode I have ever been involved in." | |
| Negotiations continued past midnight on Thursday and the prime ministers presented an amended document. | Negotiations continued past midnight on Thursday and the prime ministers presented an amended document. |
| Speaking on BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster on Friday, Mr O'Dowd, Sinn Féin, said the financial figures were "miles apart". | |
| "We share the disappointment of all the parties around the table. This is one of the issues that is uniting the executive parties. David Cameron has not grasped the financial pressures," he said. | "We share the disappointment of all the parties around the table. This is one of the issues that is uniting the executive parties. David Cameron has not grasped the financial pressures," he said. |
| "Everyone on our side of the table realises the seriousness of the situation. | "Everyone on our side of the table realises the seriousness of the situation. |
| "David Cameron needs to stop playing the penny pinching accountant and start playing the political leader." | "David Cameron needs to stop playing the penny pinching accountant and start playing the political leader." |
| The prime minister and taoiseach were back at the table as talks reopened at 08:00 GMT on Friday. But shortly after 09:00 GMT, they left. | |
| The talks focus on disputes over flags, parades, the past and welfare reform. | The talks focus on disputes over flags, parades, the past and welfare reform. |
| Previous discussions on Thursday broke up at 01:30 GMT, all sides said there had been real engagement and that progress had been made. | Previous discussions on Thursday broke up at 01:30 GMT, all sides said there had been real engagement and that progress had been made. |
| The political parties said this was not just about fresh finances, but they have been stressing that money is needed. | The political parties said this was not just about fresh finances, but they have been stressing that money is needed. |
| However, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers warned on Thursday that there could be "no big cheque" to solve problems. | However, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers warned on Thursday that there could be "no big cheque" to solve problems. |
| Speaking to Radio Ulster on Friday, Alliance leader David Ford said more work needed to be done by the parties around the government's document. | Speaking to Radio Ulster on Friday, Alliance leader David Ford said more work needed to be done by the parties around the government's document. |
| "We need to look at what we need to be doing in the way of reforming institutions and then see how that feeds into the overall process," he said. | "We need to look at what we need to be doing in the way of reforming institutions and then see how that feeds into the overall process," he said. |
| SDLP MLA Alban Maginness said that the prime minister and taoiseach had put "shape and form" on the negotiations. | SDLP MLA Alban Maginness said that the prime minister and taoiseach had put "shape and form" on the negotiations. |
| However, he stressed the importance of dealing with issues of the past in Northern Ireland and said there was "much work" to be done before these were "properly and satisfactorily addressed". | However, he stressed the importance of dealing with issues of the past in Northern Ireland and said there was "much work" to be done before these were "properly and satisfactorily addressed". |
| On Thursday evening, a small group of loyalist protesters gathered at one of the gates to the Stormont estate. | On Thursday evening, a small group of loyalist protesters gathered at one of the gates to the Stormont estate. |
| They unfurled banners in support of Orangemen in north Belfast who were prevented by a Parades Commission ruling from completing the return leg of their march on the Twelfth of July past the Ardoyne shops. | They unfurled banners in support of Orangemen in north Belfast who were prevented by a Parades Commission ruling from completing the return leg of their march on the Twelfth of July past the Ardoyne shops. |