Northern Ireland’s deputy first minister has hinted at a possible breakthrough in political negotiations over outstanding issues from the peace process.
Martin McGuinness tweeted on Friday that there had been a “step change” in the multi-party talks which ran on late into Thursday night at Stormont. He said his Sinn Féin negotiating team was “focussed but more to do!”.
The talks are around issues such as contentious loyalist marches, restrictions on the flying of the union flag at Belfast City Hall, and how to deal with the legacy of the Troubles. They are also dealing with the reform of the welfare system in Northern Ireland.
Negotiations are still ongoing, with the Irish foreign minister, Charlie Flanagan, and Northern Ireland secretary, Theresa Villiers, co-chairing the talks.
Among the issues to have blocked progress are welfare reform and moves to reduce the size of the public sector in the region.
Earlier this week the first minister, Peter Robinson, said a Sinn Féin paper on the welfare system was unrealistic as it would cost too much.
The prime minister, David Cameron, has said the government will allow Northern Ireland’s five-party power-sharing executive to set its own regional corporation tax rate if the parties can reach agreement.
Villiers is likely to conclude the talks by the end of negotiations on Friday.
The discussions have been going on for 10 weeks, with some stages being chaired by the former US presidential candidate Gary Hart.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice, Jim Allister, an opponent of power sharing, said the talks were only continuing because none of the parties wanted to be seen to crash them.
