TALKS AIMED at ending the DUP/Sinn Féin stand-off over policing and justice ended at teatime last night with both negotiating teams planning to return to Stormont Castle for a further round of talks today. Both sides indicated progress is being made.
Democratic Unionist Party leader Peter Robinson, who temporarily stood down as First Minister on Monday, and Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness led their parties in the talks. Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams was also at Stormont Castle for a period but left before the direct engagement with Mr Robinson.
Also involved in the negotiations were the DUP acting First Minister Arlene Foster and party Ministers Nelson McCausland and Edwin Poots. Sinn Féin Ministers Conor Murphy and Michelle Gildernew were also involved.
A DUP spokesman said the negotiators were addressing a “range” of issues including policing and justice and parading. “The discussions are ongoing, positive and constructive,” he said.
“There is a commitment to work through the issues and get the matters resolved. The party is 100 per cent united behind these negotiations.”
A Sinn Féin spokesman said the talks were continuing as planned and that Mr McGuinness, as well as leading the Sinn Féin team in the talks, spoke by phone to the US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and directly to Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward yesterday evening.
Sources said there was a possibility that there might be either a positive or negative outcome to the negotiations today but that it was more likely that the talks would run into early next week. A DUP source said face-to-face talks with Sinn Féin were unlikely tomorrow because of a party preference “to observe the Sabbath”.
One of the reasons why the talks could run into next week is to test whether any reports in any of the Sunday newspapers tomorrow could provide more personal material in relation to Iris Robinson and other DUP politicians which, while not directly related to politics, could unnerve party members and supporters and undermine the chances of a deal.
The DUP has lawyers on standby today prepared to challenge the legality of any reports that could be in the offing, it is understood.
The British and Irish governments, although not directly involved, are closely monitoring the talks and also believe there is a real chance of a breakthrough in the coming days. “It is very encouraging that the parties are in contact and serious work is being done. It is important that they have the time and space they need to get the deal done,” said a senior source.
Sinn Féin and the DUP were extremely careful not to provide any detail of the talks yesterday. They were also very guarded in their comments to avoid saying anything that could upset the chances of a deal.
Earlier yesterday the parties sent out DUP Culture Minister Nelson McCausland and Sinn Féin Assembly and policing board member Alex Maskey to make some anodyne comments. Mr McCausland allowed that the talks were “constructive” but he had no intention of making any predictions about the outcome.
“There’s work ongoing, there’s work to be done, and when the work’s completed then we’ll know where we stand,” he said.
Mr Maskey said the talks were earnest and serious and he did not want to characterise them in any different way. “Serious business is going on, serious talks are going and I can’t say at this stage whether they’ll produce the goods,” he said.
Alliance leader David Ford, the prospective minister for justice should a deal be struck, said the coming days would define politics in Northern Ireland for years to come. “It looks as if the DUP and Sinn Féin are finally engaging seriously on some of the crucial issues that have divided them and blocked progress,” he said.
“Northern Ireland needs stability. We need a genuinely shared future and a new justice department with agreed policies which allow it to deliver for everyone from day one,” said Mr Ford.