DUP says reports of talks agreement have 'no basis in fact'

The DUP has rejected speculation that the party is close to a deal with Sinn Fein to restore powersharing at Stormont.

It had been reported that talks were coming to a positive close, and that the Assembly could meet next week.

However, the party has released a statement which says these reports of an agreement have 'no basis in fact.'

The statement can be read in full below:

"We recognise that when talks are ongoing there is a desire in the media to have as much transparency as possible and for the details of the discussions to be discussed and debated in a very public manner.

This has to be balanced against the need to provide space to conduct business in order to ascertain whether agreement is possible and if so the nature and detail of such an agreement.

However in light of some ill informed and totally inaccurate media reporting we make the following general comments.

The DUP is not involved in a ‘consultation process’ at the present time. The Party Leader indicated in a statement on Thursday, published by several outlets on Friday, that while progress had been made in the talks significant areas of difference remained to be overcome and much more work was necessary. This remains the position.

Consequently there is no basis upon which to consult. Indeed the notion that an agreement is imminent and that the Assembly will meet next week has no basis in fact given the present state of the talks.

We remain committed to trying to secure an agreement that can be supported by unionists as well as nationalists and we have been working to that end. Any talks outcomes will be judged against the criteria we published in our March Assembly election manifesto.

We will not however be a party to facilitating an outcome that is one sided in nature and not in the best interests of Northern Ireland."