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-30543169
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
NI talks: Parties seeking to borrow £2bn for Stormont | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The five main parties at Stormont have asked the government to be allowed to borrow £2bn over a 10-year period, the BBC understands. | |
The secretary of state said Downing Street and the Treasury were now considering the proposal. | The secretary of state said Downing Street and the Treasury were now considering the proposal. |
The news comes after it emerged that the five parties agreed proposals to break the deadlock on welfare reform. | The news comes after it emerged that the five parties agreed proposals to break the deadlock on welfare reform. |
The parties want to improve Stormont's borrowing powers and are seeking to have welfare penalties written off. | The parties want to improve Stormont's borrowing powers and are seeking to have welfare penalties written off. |
Northern Ireland is having to pay the penalties to the Treasury for not implementing the welfare reforms passed by Westminster in February 2013. | Northern Ireland is having to pay the penalties to the Treasury for not implementing the welfare reforms passed by Westminster in February 2013. |
The BBC also understands that the document passed to the government includes a request for cash to pay for bodies that would examine the past. | The BBC also understands that the document passed to the government includes a request for cash to pay for bodies that would examine the past. |
The parties have also asked for a peace investment fund. | The parties have also asked for a peace investment fund. |
The talks, which have been going on for 10 weeks, are aimed at resolving disputes over flags, parades, the legacy of the Troubles and welfare. | The talks, which have been going on for 10 weeks, are aimed at resolving disputes over flags, parades, the legacy of the Troubles and welfare. |
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said the talks were at a "crunch point". | Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said the talks were at a "crunch point". |
She would not go into the detail of the proposals, but said the government was looking "very seriously" at the paper submitted by the five parties. | She would not go into the detail of the proposals, but said the government was looking "very seriously" at the paper submitted by the five parties. |
"There does seem to have been a degree of progress between the parties," she said. | "There does seem to have been a degree of progress between the parties," she said. |
"Our response is going to have to take into account the deficit that we inherited and the limited resources we have." | "Our response is going to have to take into account the deficit that we inherited and the limited resources we have." |
Ms Villiers said there were no plans for David Cameron to return to Northern Ireland before Christmas | Ms Villiers said there were no plans for David Cameron to return to Northern Ireland before Christmas |
Earlier, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said there had been a "step change" in the talks. | Earlier, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said there had been a "step change" in the talks. |
The deputy first minister tweeted: "Our team focussed but more to do." | The deputy first minister tweeted: "Our team focussed but more to do." |
Negotiators from the five executive parties have been holding the latest round of talks in Stormont Castle. | Negotiators from the five executive parties have been holding the latest round of talks in Stormont Castle. |
Sinn Féin has refused to implement welfare reform in Northern Ireland and a paper from the party earlier in the week was dismissed as being unrealistic and unaffordable by other political parties. | Sinn Féin has refused to implement welfare reform in Northern Ireland and a paper from the party earlier in the week was dismissed as being unrealistic and unaffordable by other political parties. |