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Sinn Féin meets David Cameron over welfare reform crisis Sinn Féin meets David Cameron over welfare reform crisis
(35 minutes later)
Sinn Féin has held "very forthright" talks with Prime Minister David Cameron over welfare reform - the issue that has been threatening Stormont's future.Sinn Féin has held "very forthright" talks with Prime Minister David Cameron over welfare reform - the issue that has been threatening Stormont's future.
Afterwards, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said Mr Cameron would have to give a "powerful input" in order to find a solution to the crisis.Afterwards, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said Mr Cameron would have to give a "powerful input" in order to find a solution to the crisis.
Mr McGuinness said the threat of welfare powers being taken back by Westminster was not discussed.Mr McGuinness said the threat of welfare powers being taken back by Westminster was not discussed.
However, he added that the idea was "absolutely unacceptable".However, he added that the idea was "absolutely unacceptable".
'Imminent collapse''Imminent collapse'
Prime Minister David Cameron met Mr McGuinness and other senior Sinn Féin members at Westminster on Wednesday, including the party's leader Gerry Adams. Prime Minister David Cameron met Mr McGuinness and other senior Sinn Féin members at Westminster on Tuesday, including the party's leader Gerry Adams.
The meeting ended without an apparent breakthrough, but Mr McGuinness, who missed the birth of his newest grandchild to travel to London, said it had not been a waste of time.The meeting ended without an apparent breakthrough, but Mr McGuinness, who missed the birth of his newest grandchild to travel to London, said it had not been a waste of time.
"Today's engagement was useful and I believe that David Cameron can be in no doubt about the seriousness of the crisis we are facing," he said in a statement."Today's engagement was useful and I believe that David Cameron can be in no doubt about the seriousness of the crisis we are facing," he said in a statement.
"The political structures created by the Good Friday Agreement are at the point of imminent collapse due to the British government's austerity agenda."The political structures created by the Good Friday Agreement are at the point of imminent collapse due to the British government's austerity agenda.
"Sinn Féin will do everything in our power to prevent a collapse from happening. Others - particularly the British government - must do the same.""Sinn Féin will do everything in our power to prevent a collapse from happening. Others - particularly the British government - must do the same."
'Special circumstances''Special circumstances'
He said Mr Cameron's government must provide "new investment" to ensure the survival of Stormont's political institutions.He said Mr Cameron's government must provide "new investment" to ensure the survival of Stormont's political institutions.
The deputy first minister also said that Northern Ireland's "unique difficulties", after 30 years of the Troubles, must be taken into account.The deputy first minister also said that Northern Ireland's "unique difficulties", after 30 years of the Troubles, must be taken into account.
"The British government needs to accept the special circumstances of the north, as a society coming out of conflict, which lasted for almost 30 years.""The British government needs to accept the special circumstances of the north, as a society coming out of conflict, which lasted for almost 30 years."
Mr McGuinness added: "Successive British governments invested enormous, at times limitless, resources in pursuing a military agenda.Mr McGuinness added: "Successive British governments invested enormous, at times limitless, resources in pursuing a military agenda.
"They now need to bring a similar commitment to building a still fragile peace.""They now need to bring a similar commitment to building a still fragile peace."
Mr McGuinness told the BBC that he had given up "precious" time with his newest grandchild, who was born on Wednesday as he prepared to travel to London. Mr McGuinness told the BBC that he had given up "precious" time with his newest grandchild, who was born on Tuesday as he prepared to travel to London.
"That's a very precious thing within my family. I haven't seen that child, I'm very anxious to get back home, so that I see her along with the rest of my family.""That's a very precious thing within my family. I haven't seen that child, I'm very anxious to get back home, so that I see her along with the rest of my family."
He added: "I've given up my day to come over here. I haven't done that just for the sake of it.He added: "I've given up my day to come over here. I haven't done that just for the sake of it.
"I don't waste my time coming over to talk to people here who first and foremost don't recognise the responsibilities they have in the equation that we're presently trying to work out.""I don't waste my time coming over to talk to people here who first and foremost don't recognise the responsibilities they have in the equation that we're presently trying to work out."