Woodward: NI powersharing talks making progress

Talks aimed at saving the North's power-sharing administration have made “considerable progress”, the British Government said tonight.

Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward said negotiations on the transfer of policing and justice powers to Belfast had ended tonight without agreement, but would continue on Monday.

Mr Woodward said: “We have made, across six very long days I think, considerable progress. There remains work to be done.”

The Foreign Affairs Minister Micháel Martin has said despite the involvement of the British and Irish Governments, this is a deal that must "come from the parties themselves".

Sinn Féin have also said the marathon talks are making progress.

The talks have been suspended until Monday morning.

Conor Murphy, of Sinn Féin, said he wants to bring matters to a "speedy conclusion".

An Taoiseach Brian Cowen and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown launched the dialogue at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, on Monday.

Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionists had disagreed over a solution for dealing with loyal order parades.

Mr Woodward added: “We felt yesterday that significant progress was being made, therefore it was right in the place of those talks happening to allow them to continue their work today.”

The governments had threatened to publish their own proposals to break the deadlock.