TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar and Prime Minister Theresa May will meet with members of Sinn Fein and the DUP in Belfast today with the hope of reaching an agreement to restore power-sharing.
Both leaders will meet Northern Ireland’s five political parties this afternoon with speculation increasing that the Government may offer Northern Ireland additional funding if the DUP and Sinn Fein finalise a deal.
Sources close to the talks suggest that the decision by both leaders to travel to Belfast indicates that a breakthrough in the talks is imminent.
Sinn Fein and the DUP are expected to make significant compromises in order to end the political stalemate and reach a deal.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar cancelled a scheduled meeting with Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones in Dublin today in order to be present at the talks.
A Downing Street spokesman said that Mrs May will tell the parties that her Government is ready to introduce legislation to enable the re-establishment of the Stormont institutions.
The two Governments have largely stayed out of the current round of talks with both parties trying to reach an agreement themselves.
Talks between the parties were put on hold over the weekend as Sinn Fein members gathered in Dublin to endorse Mary Lou McDonald as their new president.
Today will be the first meeting of Theresa May and Leo Varadkar in Northern Ireland.
