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Northern Ireland politicians stumble over flags and marches Northern Ireland politicians stumble over flags and marches
(about 1 hour later)
Northern Ireland’s political parties are unlikely to reach agreement on two key peace process issues – flags and a contentious Ulster Loyalist march in north Belfast Northern Ireland’s political parties are unlikely to reach agreement on two key peace process issues – flags and a contentious Ulster Loyalist march in north Belfast.
A negotiator for the centrist Alliance party said on Tuesday that the questions of flags and parades had “not been discussed in any meaningful way”.A negotiator for the centrist Alliance party said on Tuesday that the questions of flags and parades had “not been discussed in any meaningful way”.
Stephen Farry, a junior minister in the power-sharing government in Belfast, accused the unionists parties of not being willing to negotiate on a banned Orange Order march in the Ardoyne area of the city.Stephen Farry, a junior minister in the power-sharing government in Belfast, accused the unionists parties of not being willing to negotiate on a banned Orange Order march in the Ardoyne area of the city.
But after 11 weeks of discussions, the government was holding out hope that there could an 11th-hour deal over welfare reforms and the vexed question of how to deal with the legacy of the Ulster Troubles. But after 11 weeks of discussions the government was holding out hope that there could an 11th-hour deal over welfare reforms and the vexed question of how to deal with the legacy of the Ulster Troubles.
The Northern Ireland secretary, Theresa Villiers, extended the morning deadline for the talks and has handed the parties a new government position about extra money to cushion the impact of welfare reform and to pay for an overarching process to deal with the past.The Northern Ireland secretary, Theresa Villiers, extended the morning deadline for the talks and has handed the parties a new government position about extra money to cushion the impact of welfare reform and to pay for an overarching process to deal with the past.
Many of the negotiators stayed up through the night to hammer out the issues that have threatened to destabilise the power-sharing devolution project. Former IRA prisoner Gerry Kelly tweeted a call for the “release the Sinn Féin 10”, while the SDLP MP Mark Durkan posted pictures of coffee and snacks handed to weary politicians at about 6.30am. Many of the negotiators stayed up through the night to hammer out the issues that have threatened to destabilise the power-sharing devolution project. Former IRA prisoner Gerry Kelly tweeted a call to “release the Sinn Féin 10”, while the SDLP MP Mark Durkan posted pictures of coffee and snacks handed to weary politicians at about 6.30am.
It is expected that the parties will agree to shelve the issues of flags and parades for the time being, and instead focus on welfare and paying for investigations into the Troubles.It is expected that the parties will agree to shelve the issues of flags and parades for the time being, and instead focus on welfare and paying for investigations into the Troubles.
All the parties are demanding £2bn to be handed to the coalition from the UK Treasury. David Cameron has instead offered £1bn to lessen the economic impact of job losses in the public sector and other changes to the welfare system in the region. The government is likely to meet the parties’ demand with a figure somewhere in between.All the parties are demanding £2bn to be handed to the coalition from the UK Treasury. David Cameron has instead offered £1bn to lessen the economic impact of job losses in the public sector and other changes to the welfare system in the region. The government is likely to meet the parties’ demand with a figure somewhere in between.