Flanagan hopeful on resolution in Northern talks

Foreign Affairs minister Charlie Flanagan said he is hopeful that there will be a deal in the North's cross-party talks early next week.

Charlie Flanagan said an important breakthrough was made yesterday, and he detected a determination on everybody's part to reach an agreement.

The talks are on flags, parades, the legacy of the Troubles and welfare.

Mr Flanagan predicted that an agreement was possible if not on Monday, then "a short time after".

However, he accepted that everyone was waiting for British Prime Minister David Cameron's response to the five parties' proposals on finances.

They have asked the UK government for £2 billion in loans and extra funding over a 10-year period.