SF 'glorification' of terror blocking deal: Foster

Following talks in Downing Street with Theresa May, DUP leader Arlene Foster said they remained committed to the return of devolved government at Stormont.

However, she said that any agreement had to work for both unionists and nationalists, and that the activities of Sinn Fein were not helping.

"We did say to the Prime Minister that the glorification of terrorism at the weekend at the Sinn Fein conference was making it more difficult to bring around devolution,'' she said.

"We are talking about a deal unionism and nationalism can live with.

"They are talking about nationalism and that's it.''

At the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis in Dublin at the weekend tributes were paid to the late Martin McGuinness.

One of the loudest cheers of the conference came when delegates were told that the former Stormont deputy first minister had been a proud member of the IRA''

The DUP and other unionists in Northern Ireland have long questioned whether Sinn Fein's reverence for the past actions of the IRA is compatible with building a shared society in the region.

The issue often manifests itself around commemorations for IRA members killed during the conflict.

Sinn Fein insists there are different narratives of what happened during the Troubles and that all sides should be entitled to remember their dead

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams left Downing Street following his own discussions with Mrs May and said: "I didn't see any glorification of anyone at the Ard Fheis.

"I also, standing outside the office of the British Prime Minister, want to refute the use of this term 'terrorism'.

"Pejorative terms like that, which are about the sons and daughters of families, husbands and wives of families, who happened to serve in the Irish Republican Army and who died in the conflict, I don't use those terms.

"So let's have a wee bit of sense about this.''

Asked about the difficulties in striking a deal with the British government, Mr Adams added: "I'm too long going in and out of this place to let anything annoy me.

"I understand how change works, it works when those who want change are prepared to engage with those who don't want change and persuade them it is in everybody's interests.'

Theresa May, meanwhile, has called for fresh talks between the Northern Ireland parties to end the deadlock over power-sharing at Stormont.

Following the talks she said she believed the differences between them were small and could be resolved.

She said both parties had reiterated their commitment to the restoration of devolution following the collapse of power-sharing in January.

I believe that the differences between the parties, the issues that are still dividing them, are very small,'' she said.

I am not underestimating the challenges that lie ahead but I believe that a way forward can be found so agreement can be reached.

I believe it is imperative the parties come back together next week for talks and that we resolve these differences.'