2 days to go to Northern Ireland deadline

The news output from Northern Ireland has been a bit quiet for a while. But the deadline of Monday, 26th March has crept up on us.

The DUP and Sinn Fein meet today. The signs are that, hopefully, the deadline will be met:

BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said: "Most observers believe the DUP leader, Ian Paisley, is ready, in principle, to share power.

"But his party has been looking for an eight-week delay which will put a new Stormont executive on ice until late May."

Mr Paisley held talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair twice within 48 hours this week, ahead of the deadline.

After the second meeting, Downing Street re-iterated that Monday's deadline stood.

Mr Paisley said a "great deal of ground" had been covered.

So it seems to be now or never. But in Northern Ireland you never know.