Church leaders urge North's politicians to strike a deal

The leaders of Ireland's four main churches today urged politicians to redouble their efforts in talks to save the future of the Stormont power-sharing government.

Their plea came after British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Taoiseach Brian Cowen left the talks venue at Hillsborough castle, Co Down, yesterday without securing agreement.

The two leaders asked, however, that First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness return to the negotiating table and report on their progress by tomorrow morning.

In a further development senior clerics offered their prayers and support in a joint statement from Cardinal Sean Brady, Church of Ireland Archbishop Alan Harper, Presbyterian Moderator Dr Stafford Carson and Methodist President Rev Donald Ker.

The men said they wished to put on record their "admiration for the commitment of all parties engaged in the talks to resolve the issues surrounding the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly".

They added: "The people of Northern Ireland expect their representatives to ensure that agreement is reached. There is an overwhelming desire throughout Northern Ireland for continued political progress and for the peace process to be sustained."

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin and British Secretary of State Shaun Woodward are stewarding the latest phase of talks which come after three days and two nights of intensive discussions, which were led by Cowen and Brown, but which failed to secure a breakthrough.

If the parties cannot agree, the governments will publish their own set of proposals which attempt to meet Sinn Féin demands for the swift devolution of policing and justice powers to the Assembly, and to address DUP calls for the Parades Commission to be replaced.

Mr Brown said: "We believe we have proposals that make for a reasonable deal on devolution of policing and justice, we believe we have proposals that make for a reasonable settlement on all the outstanding issues."

But looking towards tomorrow's deadline, he added: "If we judge that insubstantial progress has been made we will publish our own proposals."

The two men said they believed devolution could happen in May, with a vote on the move brought before the Assembly as early as March, if the outstanding matters were dealt with.

The governments formulated proposals that also seek to find common ground on the parades issue and other hurdles such as legislative protections for the Irish language.

Mr Cowen said the problems were not insurmountable, saying: "There is far more in common than what divides us."

But Sinn Féin said it was "deeply disappointed" with the outcome and blamed DUP demands for changes to the process of managing controversial loyal order parades for blocking an agreement.

But the main unionist party accused their partners in government of refusing to give ground or compromise.

Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "I believe we have displayed extraordinary patience and commitment over the past 18 months as we sought to persuade the Democratic Unionist Party to be partners of progress.

"Over recent days the two Governments have joined that effort.

"The decision by the DUP, at the behest of the Orange Order, to make the abolition of the Parades Commission (current body that rules on parades) a pre-condition for the transfer of powers on policing and justice flies in the face of all that."

Sinn Féin would nevertheless study the proposals tabled by the two Governments, he said.

"But one thing is certain - and it is absolutely certain as far as we are concerned - that citizens' rights and entitlements will not be made subject to a unionist veto or an Orange Order pre-condition."

DUP leader Peter Robinson insisted his party was committed to the devolution of policing powers, but said it would not let that happen until the conditions were right.

He expressed confidence that the parties could reach a settlement but insisted Sinn Féin had to show some flexibility in their approach.

Mr Robinson added: "The Democratic Unionist Party is committed to ensure that devolution works in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland and will not accept any second rate deal simply to get across the line to suit someone else's deadline."

He added: "If others choose to walk away then I believe that the wrath of the community will be upon them for doing that."

Though the minor parties in the Assembly were also involved in the Hillsborough talks, they criticised the process, claiming their role was limited.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said that, while there was a lot of frustration, there was still the opportunity to make progress.

He said: "We need to just wind our necks in, calm down, sit down and face all of the issues with all of the parties."

Reg Empey, leader of the Ulster Unionists, said the prize was too great to fail now.