This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/politics/2014/dec/12/cameron-northern-ireland-financial-package

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Northern Ireland talks end without agreement Northern Ireland talks end without agreement
(about 2 hours later)
David Cameron has left political talks in Northern Ireland conceding that no deal is possible at the moment.David Cameron has left political talks in Northern Ireland conceding that no deal is possible at the moment.
The prime minister said he had tabled a £1bn financial package but that would only be made available to the executive if an agreement could be reached on outstanding disputes.The prime minister said he had tabled a £1bn financial package but that would only be made available to the executive if an agreement could be reached on outstanding disputes.
Many of the region’s politicians are unhappy with the size of the financial offer, with some describing it as “derisory”.Many of the region’s politicians are unhappy with the size of the financial offer, with some describing it as “derisory”.
Cameron and the Irish taoiseach, Enda Kenny, both held discussions with the executive’s five parties in an effort to forge a deal.Cameron and the Irish taoiseach, Enda Kenny, both held discussions with the executive’s five parties in an effort to forge a deal.
Leaving Stormont House on Friday morning, Cameron said: “We have made good progress overnight and today but a deal is not going to be possible today.”Leaving Stormont House on Friday morning, Cameron said: “We have made good progress overnight and today but a deal is not going to be possible today.”
As well as long-standing disputes over flags, parades and the toxic legacy of the Troubles, the five parties in the power-sharing coalition are trying to achieve consensus on budgetary problems facing the devolved institutions, particularly the impasse over the implementation of the UK government’s welfare reforms in Northern Ireland.As well as long-standing disputes over flags, parades and the toxic legacy of the Troubles, the five parties in the power-sharing coalition are trying to achieve consensus on budgetary problems facing the devolved institutions, particularly the impasse over the implementation of the UK government’s welfare reforms in Northern Ireland.
The structures and governance arrangements at Stormont are also on the agenda.The structures and governance arrangements at Stormont are also on the agenda.
Ministers in Belfast have already had to ask for an emergency £100m loan from the treasury to balance their books this financial year, and if a deal on welfare reform is not agreed they will face about £200m in government penalties for non-implementation.Ministers in Belfast have already had to ask for an emergency £100m loan from the treasury to balance their books this financial year, and if a deal on welfare reform is not agreed they will face about £200m in government penalties for non-implementation.
As it is unlikely the administration would be able to absorb such a financial burden, the future of the executive effectively depends on a resolution to the welfare reform issue.As it is unlikely the administration would be able to absorb such a financial burden, the future of the executive effectively depends on a resolution to the welfare reform issue.
Cameron said the situation was better than on Thursday, but “intensive work” needed to be done to ensure the Northern Ireland Executive’s budget was sustainable.
“I think things are better today than they were yesterday,” he said.
“I think a deal is possible. It’s possible because I think the parties have done a lot of good work on the issues that need to be settled - the issue of how to manage parades, how to handle the past, the issues of flying flags.
“The real work that still needs to be done is to make sure that the budget of the Northern Ireland Executive is sustainable and works, so intensive work needs to be done between the parties on that issue.”
With £1 billion of spending power on the table, Cameron said a “comprehensive agreement” was needed rather than “simply some words about these issues”.
Kenny said he also believed a deal was possible and the politicians “will be able to conclude the outstanding areas of disagreement on the matters that we have discussed”.
But Sinn Fein’s frustration with the situation was summed up in a tweet from president Gerry Adams, which said: “2 Govts exiting after most amateurish ham fisted episode I have ever been involved in.”