DUP minister warns of 'big ask' on North deal

A deal to save the North’s power-sharing government may not be possible today, a senior Democratic Unionist warned.

The negotiations have entered a decisive phase after the Taoiseach Brian Cowen and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown vowed to stay at the Hillsborough talks, claiming progress had been made during yesterday’s all-night session.

But DUP Environment Minister Edwin Poots said concluding a deal today was a “big ask”.

“We are working towards a conclusion and if we get cooperation, these issues can be tied up,” he said.

“(If) people play hardball and over-negotiate, then we won’t be caving in.”

He said a significant amount of work and goodwill would be required.

“Perhaps some of the negotiators misunderstood where they thought the DUP were,” he said.

“They will find the DUP not in any mood to sign up to a bad deal.”

Mr Brown had been expected to return to London for Prime Minister's Questions at Westminster, but officials said Commons Leader Harriet Harman will deputise.

As talks involving the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Féin on the devolution of policing and justice powers entered their third day at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, it was indicated that there was “scope for agreement”.

A UK Government spokesman said: “The Prime Minister and the Taoiseach have been engaged in discussions throughout the night with both the Sinn Féin and DUP leaderships and with the other Northern Ireland leaders. Meetings will continue throughout the morning.

“We continue to believe that there is scope for agreement on the elements that need to be in place to enable the completion of devolution in Northern Ireland.”

There was speculation last night that the parties were edging towards an agreement that would see law and order powers transferred from Westminster to the Northern Ireland Assembly before the upcoming general election, while a compromise deal was being negotiated on a new system for overseeing Loyal Order parades.

The talks were dramatically convened by the British and Irish premiers on Monday after the long-running row between the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Féin over the stalled devolution of policing powers escalated to crisis point.

Republicans threatened serious consequences for the administration if the DUP does not agree to a swift transfer of law and order responsibilities from Westminster, but the main unionist party insisted it will not give the go-ahead until there is progress on the parades front.

The DUP is demanding an end to the Parades Commission which currently oversees marches in flashpoint areas such as the Garvaghy Road in Portadown, Co Armagh, one of a number of loyal order parades which has sparked violence.

All the North’s main parties were involved in round-the-clock talks to hammer out a solution.

Last night all the political leaders met face to face during a round-table meeting chaired by Mr Brown and Mr Cowen.

Afterwards SDLP leader Mark Durkan said progress had been made on the issue of parades and called for a deal that would promote true partnership in the coalition government, in which his party holds one ministry.

“There were a lot of positive words said around the table, a lot of good words,” he said.

“What we have to do is to see if that can be followed up by good work.”

A recent review on parading led by Lord Ashdown proposed a mix of local consultation on marches with adjudicating panels to rule on problem parades.

Mr Durkan said some elements of those recommendations had been abandoned or reworked in a bid to strike an agreement.