Talks end without agreement but a deal 'can be struck' says PM's

The British and Irish Governments said they believe a deal can be struck in Northern Ireland that will hasten the return of devolved Government to the province.

In a statement following the Leeds Castle talks in which a deal was not reached in accordance with the Saturday afternoon deadline, Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern said they believed issues to do with ending paramilitary activity and putting weapons beyond use could be resolved.

"The Governments believe that what is on offer now is reasonable in its substance and historic in its meaning," the statement read. "We are determined to move ahead. On the one hand there must be the complete end to violence in all its forms. On the other there must be a genuine, lasting and stable commitment to power-sharing.

"If agreement cannot be reached, when it is clear it should be, we will find a different way to move this process forward."

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams blamed the DUP for the failure to reach agreement at Leeds saying they "had not engaged, they have not negotiated, they have not moved".

"If the DUP remain unwilling to accept equality, if they remain incapable of sharing power and the all-Ireland shape of the agreement, then there is an onus on the two governments and the British government in particular, to move immediately on the human rights, equality, policing and demilitarisation agendas," Mr Adams said.

“The British government must advance and accelerate the agenda of change set out in the Good Friday Agreement."

However, DUP leader Ian Paisley his party was eager to achieving lasting institutions that were "free from the threat of terror and on a democratic basis".

Dr Paisley said: "I believe that a golden opportunity has been available to realise a stable and entirely peaceful future and I told the Prime Minister that in some respects we have never been closer to solving the problems that have plagued us for decades.

"We are committed to stay the course and to deliver a better agreement for all the people of Northern Ireland."

Talks look set to resume this week between the Governments and all the main political parties as a deal becomes ever more possible.

(MB/GB)