Policing Deal Looming For Northern Ireland

Following the latest round of 'shuttle-diplomacy', Northern Ireland's main political parties will this weekend assess potential financial arrangement for devolved policing and justice powers to the Stormont Assembly.

NI's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said "massive progress" has been made during late night talks in Downing Street on Thursday.

The Sinn Féin man said all sides were on the "cusp" of an agreement.

Peter Robinson, the DUP First Minister, has remained non-committal, insisting he will put the funding package to party colleagues for consideration.

Gordon Brown took direct action in discussions this week, amid simmering discontent between the First and Deputy First Ministers.

On Monday, the Prime Minister travelled to Stormont, and held separate talks with political leaders. Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness met in Downing Street the following day, and held subsequent discussions last night.

The Deputy First Minister has called for judiciary powers to be transferred as soon as possible.

First Minister Robinson has remained resolute that funding issues must be address before any settlement is reached.

He also called for other dispensations, such as the retention of the full time police reserves, the right for former security workers to be issued with protection weapons and the abolition of the Parades Commission.

Speaking outside Number 10 after midnight, Mr McGuinness said: "We've effectively concluded our discussions on the funding issues in relation to the transfer of power in policing and justice.

"So I have to say, I think a good night's work has been done."

Full details of the financial proposals will be sent to Stormont leaders on Monday.

Mr Robinson refused to commit to the arrangements until he convened with DUP members.

He said: "I've been in many sets of negotiations and we will want to be sure that the issues that we have discussed are interpreted and expressed in the communication in the way that we would expect, and then colleagues are going to have to make a judgement based on the proposition."

(PR/GK)