The Irish and British governments have given Northern Ireland's power sharing executive 48 hours to agree on a deal for the devolution of the policing and justice affairs in Northern Ireland.
Sinn Fein and the DUP are currently deadlocked in negotiations. The DUP want the disbanding of the Parades Commission as a precondition to devolution.
Dissolving the Parades Commission would allow provocative Orange Order marches through catholic areas such as the Garvaghy road.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said, "We believe we have proposals that make for a reasonable deal on devolution of policing and justice, we believe we have proposals that make for a reasonable settlement on all the outstanding issues.”
If the 48-hour deadline is not met and there is "insubstantial progress" the British and Irish governments will publish their own proposals for devolution in Northern Ireland.
Sinn Fein has threatened to pull out of the executive if there is no progress in negotiations.
Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness said, "We now intend to study the governments statement, but one thing is certain, that citizens rights and entitlements cannot and will not be subject to a unionist veto or an Orange Order precondition."
“I believe we have displayed extraordinary patience and commitment over the past 18 months as we sought to persuade the Democratic Unionist Party to be partners of progress.
“Over recent days the two Governments have joined that effort.
“The decision by the DUP, at the behest of the Orange Order, to make the abolition of the Parades Commission a pre-condition for the transfer of powers on policing and justice flies in the face of all that.”
The DUP First Minister Peter Robinson said, "The Democratic Unionist Party is committed to ensure that devolution works in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland and will not accept any second rate deal simply to get across the line to suit someone else’s deadline.”
The leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Sir Reg Empey said the Executive had come too far to fail.
"Having come the distance we have come, I think it would be a tragedy that we would falter at this last stage,” said Empey.
However Empey warned that unionists would not be bullied by Sinn Fein.
"I want to make it clear Sinn Féin are not going to bully us. We have our issues, we have our mandate and we intend to have our agenda discussed with the other parties.”
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