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Northern Ireland talks continuing at Stormont | Northern Ireland talks continuing at Stormont |
(34 minutes later) | |
Politicians in Northern Ireland have negotiated through the night in an attempt to agree on a range of issues affecting power-sharing. | Politicians in Northern Ireland have negotiated through the night in an attempt to agree on a range of issues affecting power-sharing. |
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers, who set a deadline of Tuesday morning for a deal, is due to convene a formal meeting. | Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers, who set a deadline of Tuesday morning for a deal, is due to convene a formal meeting. |
Details of the cross-party discussions are yet to emerge, and it is not clear whether a deal will be reached. | Details of the cross-party discussions are yet to emerge, and it is not clear whether a deal will be reached. |
The talks on welfare reform, the past, flags and parades have lasted 11 weeks. | |
The five Northern Ireland Executive parties and the UK and Irish governments have been involved in the talks at Stormont Castle. | The five Northern Ireland Executive parties and the UK and Irish governments have been involved in the talks at Stormont Castle. |
The BBC's Northern Ireland political editor, Mark Devenport, said the main source of contention appeared to be related to the legacy of the Troubles. | |
Elsewhere, the terms of a new financial package proposed by UK Prime Minister David Cameron have also been a focus of the talks. | |
Last week the five executive parties asked the UK government for £2bn in loans and extra funding over a 10-year period. The government later made a £1.5bn offer. | Last week the five executive parties asked the UK government for £2bn in loans and extra funding over a 10-year period. The government later made a £1.5bn offer. |
First Minister Peter Robinson said he believed that there was "real money on the table" from Westminster, but Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said: "I have to caution that most of that is loans." | First Minister Peter Robinson said he believed that there was "real money on the table" from Westminster, but Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said: "I have to caution that most of that is loans." |
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 five parties said they were considering details of the proposed financial package, though some warned there were still other issues to be resolved. | The five parties said they were considering details of the proposed financial package, though some warned there were still other issues to be resolved. |
Ms Villiers said on Monday that the government's financial offer had been "positive and generous", but also reflected the UK's "extremely difficult fiscal situation". | Ms Villiers said on Monday that the government's financial offer had been "positive and generous", but also reflected the UK's "extremely difficult fiscal situation". |
She said it "had to be fair to all parts of the United Kingdom". | She said it "had to be fair to all parts of the United Kingdom". |
One issue is over £214m owed to the UK Treasury after Northern Ireland failed to implement welfare reforms passed by Westminster in February 2013. | |
The figure is the amount the benefits budget in Northern Ireland should have fallen if welfare reforms had been implemented. The Stormont parties want this written off. |