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-30567922
The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland talks: Villiers hopeful of '11th hour' deal | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Northern Ireland secretary has said she believes a deal is "still possible" in the cross-party talks ahead of the final day of negotiations. | |
| Theresa Villiers has hosted 11 weeks of talks in Belfast on flags, parades, the legacy of the Troubles and welfare. | |
| She said the parties would get Downing Street's response to their request for additional funds at 11:00 GMT. | |
| She said the response was "positive and generous", but also reflected the UK's "extremely difficult fiscal situation". | |
| Ms Villiers said Downing Street's financial offer also "had to be fair to all parts of the United Kingdom". | |
| At the end of last week, the five Northern Ireland Executive parties agreed to ask the government for £2bn in loans and extra funding over a 10-year period. | |
| 'Long day' | |
| The talks are expected to end on Monday, with or without a deal. | |
| The secretary of state told reporters that the negotiators could be heading into a "very long day" at Stormont House. | |
| "There is still an opportunity here to be grasped. It is very much the 11th hour now but it's not too late, we can potentially still do this." | |
| However, she added: "I think everyone accepts that we can't go on with this process indefinitely." | |
| She also repeated that remarks she made on Sunday evening, when she said it was "make your mind up time" for Northern Ireland's political leaders. | |
| Ms Villiers said if there was no agreement on Monday, "There isn't going to be one, and the process ends in failure". | |
| 'Comprehensive agreement' | |
| The Northern Ireland first minister and deputy first minister held a conference call with the prime minister at the weekend. | The Northern Ireland first minister and deputy first minister held a conference call with the prime minister at the weekend. |
| First Minister Peter Robinson said the call on Saturday focused on the cross-party talks and financial issues contained in the paper given to David Cameron. | First Minister Peter Robinson said the call on Saturday focused on the cross-party talks and financial issues contained in the paper given to David Cameron. |
| Mr Robinson said he welcomed the prime minister's engagement in "these financial issues this weekend" and looked forward to further discussions on Monday. | Mr Robinson said he welcomed the prime minister's engagement in "these financial issues this weekend" and looked forward to further discussions on Monday. |
| Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said the proposals on public finances required "additional financial support and a commitment from the British government to deal with outstanding issues from the Good Friday and other agreements". | |
| "A comprehensive agreement between the governments and the parties is what is required," he said. | "A comprehensive agreement between the governments and the parties is what is required," he said. |