Brian Cowen and Gordon Brown remained on standby tonight to travel to Hillsborough at short notice to ratify a deal to break the political deadlock — notwithstanding last minute DUP demands for additional concessions from the British government.
The Taoiseach and British prime minister could return to Hillsborough Castle as early as
tomorrow morning to finally sign off on a deal, according to informed sources, although there was still a possibility tonight that the deal could be put back further into the weekend or to Monday at the latest.
"We are in the final stretch," said a senior DUP talks source tonight. Senior party
members appeared confident the agreement negotiated over ten days at Hillsborough Castle could be sold to the DUP parliamentary team, including its sceptics.
Sinn Féin announced earlier today that negotiations on policing, justice and parades had ended and the party believed the basis for an agreement existed.
But DUP Environment Minister Edwin Poots tonight said his party was meeting the British government at Hillsborough castle for further talks.
In response to the Sinn Féin comments, he said: “The referee’s whistle has not been blown yet. And if one team leaves the pitch before the referee’s whistle is blown, that is a matter for them. We are still playing.”
But earlier Sinn Féin’s junior minister Gerry Kelly said: “The negotiations have come to a conclusion. We believe that it is a positive conclusion and we believe that it is the basis on which to move forward.”
It was confirmed tonight that the DUP held an hour-long discussion with British government representatives at Hillsborough Castle.
Sources said the meeting did not represent a further negotiation but instead involved an effort to provide clarity on the prime minister Gordon Brown's offer of £800 million to fund devolution, as well as an update on the efforts to support the crisis-hit financial institution the Presbyterian Mutual Society.
The two parties have been involved in 10 days of discussions at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, with representatives of both governments.
The talks hinge on the search for a deal on the devolution of policing and justice powers to Stormont, plus unionist calls for a new system for overseeing loyal order parades.
DUP leader Peter Robinson briefed his party colleagues at Stormont on Monday amid speculation that a deal was to be agreed at that time.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Mr Brown and were on standby to attend an official announcement.
But it has been widely reported that 14 of the DUP’s 36 Assembly members refused to support the proposals.
The apparent rebellion - though hotly denied by the DUP - appeared to scupper plans to announce a successful conclusion of the talks on Monday.
Tonight it was unclear when the DUP would hold its next party meeting to discuss a final package of proposals.
In a further development, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams writing today in his blog, Leargas, claimed his party had blocked moves by the DUP to secure concessions from the British government after the unionist party met internal difficulties on Monday.
Mr Adams said: “We were to meet Peter Robinson when his group meeting was finished but he headed off to talk to the British. There was then a real concern that there would be an attempt to re-negotiate what had been agreed. We ruled that out.
“It is obvious that Peter has to go back to his Assembly group. We have just concluded our discussions with them.”
Sinn Féin’s Alex Maskey tonight refused to interpret whether the renewed DUP contacts with government represented a last minute difficulty in the search for a deal and said he believed agreement was possible.
Earlier today, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin today expressed confidence that deal on the devolution of justice and policing powers can be agreed "within the next 24 to 48 hours".
Speaking in London to the Irish International Business Network, Mr Martin said: "I hope that in the next 24 to 48 hours that we will see the fruits of the work.
Buoyed by his return, Mr Robinson last night appeared primed to press his party to conclude a deal on policing and justice, and parading.
Mr Robinson seemed ready to again put proposals thrashed at Hillsborough Castle to his Assembly party for ratification, notwithstanding that on Monday up to 14 DUP Assembly members rejected a draft blueprint for breaking the political deadlock.
Mr Robinson said he was returning as First Minister based on legal advice that he had not broken any parliamentary rules over not disclosing that his wife Iris had received two loans totalling £50,000 to support a business venture by her lover Kirk McCambley.
A BBC Spotlight programme claimed on January 7th that he was in breach of a number of parliamentary rules because he had not reported to parliamentary authorities two loans of £25,000 each that Ms Robinson had received on behalf of Mr McCambley. Mr Robinson had taken measures to have his wife repay the loans.
The BBC Spotlight programme claimed on January 7th that he was in breach of a number of parliamentary rules because he had not reported to parliamentary authorities two loans of £25,000 each that Ms Robinson had received on behalf of Mr McCambley. Mr Robinson had taken measures to have his wife repay the loans.
In a DUP press statement yesterday headed “Robinson is Back”, it was announced that Mr Robinson, based on legal advice from Paul Maguire QC, informed the Assembly speaker William Hay that he was resuming his functions as First Minister.
“I welcome the QC’s detailed advice which follows a thorough and comprehensive examination of all of the issues raised in the Spotlight programme that on the material provided his considered view was that there were no breaches whatsoever by me of the Ministerial Code, the Ministerial Code of Conduct, the Pledge of Office and the seven principles of public life,” he said.
“His advice supports my consistent contention that I have acted at all times properly and in full compliance with my public duties. I am therefore glad that at this critical time I can resume fully the functions of my office with confidence,” he added. “I will now move forward to the next stages of this process which I believe will also vindicate me.
“Once those stages are complete, I will determine what legal action I should take against the BBC and others,” said Mr Robinson.
The BBC said last night it was standing by the Spotlight programme. A criminal and other parliamentary inquiries are also taking place because of the broadcast.
Mr Maguire, at Mr Robinson’s instigation, was asked by the Stormont Departmental Solicitor’s Office for expedited advice on whether the DUP leader was in breach of parliamentary regulations.
The next challenge is for Mr Robinson to persuade his Assembly party, particularly the 14 dissenters who rejected the draft agreement on Monday, to now accept the updated deal and allow Taoiseach Brian Cowen and British prime minister Gordon Brown to return to the North to sign off on the deal. It is understood that a number of alterations to the agreement, including in relation to parading, have been made.
