Crunch talks to rescue peace process

Irish and British leaders will continue their final push to rescue the peace process in the North today after crunch talks continued late into the night between parties.

Irish Government sources last night said there was no certainty a deal would be done between the Irish and British Governments and the parties in the North.

The impasse centres on budgetary concerns for the Stormont executive as well as legacy issues relating to the peace process.

Arriving at the talks in Belfast yesterday, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: “We do hope, during the course of discussions today, possibly tomorrow, to make progress.”

British Prime Minister David Cameron said the people of the North were the ones that mattered. “They want to see their politicians deliver,” he said.

After an initial round-table discussion between the leaders and the five parties, groups broke up and held private talks. This is the ninth week of recent talks. The four main issues of contention are budgetary matters, legacy issues, a desire to make the institutions in the North work more effectively and outstanding commitments from previous agreements.

DUP negotiator Jeffrey Donaldson last night downplayed the chances of a deal materialising.

“We are prepared to come back here next week if it is clear that progress can be made to resolve the outstanding issues.”

But Irish Ministers were more optimistic. Speaking to the Irish Examiner, junior foreign affairs minister Sean Sherlock said: “Progress is being made on the issues but there is still some way to travel. The Irish government is seeking maximum possible implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, the package of measures dealing with the past as outlined in the Haas document and progress on developing North/South cooperation.”

A spokesperson for senior minister, Charlie Flanagan, said the talks process was a “final push” to get a deal over the line.

In addition to disputes over flags, parades and issues of the past, the five parties in power-sharing are trying to resolve budgetary problems facing the institutions, particularly the impasse over the non-implementation of Britain’s welfare reforms in the North.

Both Mr Kenny and Mr Cameron have cleared their diaries for more talks today.

Mr Kenny’s spokesman said the talks were “complex” but “workmanlike and constrictive”.