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Northern Ireland talks continuing at Stormont | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Talks between the Northern Ireland political parties are continuing at Stormont. | |
The government has set Tuesday morning as a deadline for agreement. | |
The negotiations on flags, parades, the past and welfare reform have been going on for 11 weeks. Earlier, the secretary of state said a deal was possible. | |
Details are emerging about the £1.5bn financial offer made by the government to the parties. | |
It is understood £150m has been offered to help fund new agencies dealing with the legacy of the Troubles - less than the £200m the Stormont parties had originally asked for, but significantly more than the £40m David Cameron offered earlier this month. | |
Loans of £700m have been offered to pay for a programme of civil service redundancies, £100m less than asked for. | |
It is understood that funding for infrastructure projects has been offered of £350m, £50m more than requested by the executive, but Stormont sources suggested the money was a loan not a grant. | |
Earlier, First Minister Peter Robinson said he believed that there was "real money on the table" from Westminster. | |
"There is a real chance to do the job, it does require all of us to apply ourselves and all of us to stretch ourselves," he said. | "There is a real chance to do the job, it does require all of us to apply ourselves and all of us to stretch ourselves," he said. |
Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy said progress had been made but the "devil was in the detail". | Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy said progress had been made but the "devil was in the detail". |
The parties are considering Downing Street's response to their request for additional funds. | The parties are considering Downing Street's response to their request for additional funds. |
Northern Ireland's five executive parties have asked for about £2bn in loans and cash over a 10-year period. | Northern Ireland's five executive parties have asked for about £2bn in loans and cash over a 10-year period. |
In relation to welfare penalties, Stormont sources indicate that they will not be waived with the government citing that to do so would be unfair to other areas of the UK. | |
However some negotiators are saying that this issue is still not resolved. Last week the Stormont parties had requested that £214m in fines should be written off. | |
'Marathon runner' | 'Marathon runner' |
Speaking at lunch-time on Monday, Mr Robinson said he felt "like a marathon runner who, at the end of 20 odd miles, has the stadium in sight". | Speaking at lunch-time on Monday, Mr Robinson said he felt "like a marathon runner who, at the end of 20 odd miles, has the stadium in sight". |
"I consider some progress has been made. It is down to the wire. There is a short period of time left to us to reach conclusions. But we are determined as this is in the benefit of Northern Ireland," he said. | "I consider some progress has been made. It is down to the wire. There is a short period of time left to us to reach conclusions. But we are determined as this is in the benefit of Northern Ireland," he said. |
"There is some real money in the present proposal. The offer is an improved offer, but we do need clarification." | "There is some real money in the present proposal. The offer is an improved offer, but we do need clarification." |
Mr Murphy, Sinn Féin, said progress had been made and that the party had been in contact with David Cameron over the weekend. | Mr Murphy, Sinn Féin, said progress had been made and that the party had been in contact with David Cameron over the weekend. |
He and party colleague Martin McGuinness received the latest paper at noon, he said, and they would examine it closely. | He and party colleague Martin McGuinness received the latest paper at noon, he said, and they would examine it closely. |
"There are gaps to be closed, there is a sense between the parties and governments that that work needs to be done today," he said. | "There are gaps to be closed, there is a sense between the parties and governments that that work needs to be done today," he said. |
"The five parties are determined to secure the best financial package available." | "The five parties are determined to secure the best financial package available." |
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said it was still far too complex to make a call on the talks. | Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said it was still far too complex to make a call on the talks. |
"We still have all the legacy issues to discuss," he said. | "We still have all the legacy issues to discuss," he said. |
"The British government's paper on finance has a headline of £1.5bn. I have to caution that most of that is loans. | "The British government's paper on finance has a headline of £1.5bn. I have to caution that most of that is loans. |
"We have to be very careful about how we can repay those loans. We can't leave a huge mountain of debt for our children and our grandchildren." | "We have to be very careful about how we can repay those loans. We can't leave a huge mountain of debt for our children and our grandchildren." |
Earlier on Monday, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said the government's response was "positive and generous", but also reflected the UK's "extremely difficult fiscal situation". | Earlier on Monday, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said the government's response was "positive and generous", but also reflected the UK's "extremely difficult fiscal situation". |
She said Downing Street's financial offer also "had to be fair to all parts of the United Kingdom". | She said Downing Street's financial offer also "had to be fair to all parts of the United Kingdom". |