The North's Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, has warned against any further delay in the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont.
Speaking after talks with Gordon Brown at Downing Street this afternoon, Mr McGuinness said if talks to break the current impasse 'failed to achieve a date for transfer of powers effective early next year, then we are in a very, very serious situation'.
He accused the DUP of 'gameplaying' and said Sinn Fein had always shown itself willing to move forward the process of devolution of policing and justice.
Mr McGuinness said it was 'preposterous' for the DUP to demand the abolition of the Parades Commission as part of that process.
Earlier, following a separate meeting with Gordon Brown, DUP leader Peter Robinson had said there could be no firm date for the devolution of policing and justice until Sinn Fein came to the table 'to deal with outstanding issues'.
Asked if the issue of parading was a pre-condition to progress, Mr Robinson said 'clearly the Parades Commission is part of the problem'.
Mr Robinson said Sinn Fein's position was 'inexplicable' because they had asked for the devolution of policing and justice but were not coming to the table.
After today's meetings a senior British government source told RTÉ News that while the two governments could not impose any timetable on the process, the Northern Secretary, Shaun Woodward, had been regularly meeting the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheal Martin, to ensure that progress was being made.
