Devolution deal expected on Monday
Expectation is rising that a deal on the devolution of policing and justice will be confirmed on Monday.
UTV’s Political Editor Ken Reid predicts that the First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness will announce that a deal has been reached on the outstanding issues.
“It is likely they will make a will make a statement confirming they are determined to press ahead and that they have reached agreement on the handling of parades and the Irish language.”
“I wouldn’t rule out the appearance of the British and Irish Prime Ministers at Hillsborough Castle.”
It follows an intense week of negotiations between the DUP and Sinn Fein.
Earlier, Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness said he wanted to move forward on the basis of partnership and equality between nationalists and unionists but said there had been “significant progress” in marathon talks with the DUP.
Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown launched the dialogue on Monday.
The governments threatened to publish their own proposals to break the deadlock.
