Cowen and Brown discuss devolution

The Taoiseach has left Downing Street after two hours of talks with Gordon Brown on the devolution of policing and justice in Northern Ireland.

In a joint statement, the two men agreed to work closely together, and with the political parties, in the next few weeks to overcome the remaining obstacles to finding an agreed basis on which the transfer of powers can take place.

The talks were also attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin and Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward.

Mr Brown left the discussions for 20 minutes to hold a pre-arranged video conference with President Obama before re-joining the talks.

Earlier at a brief news conference, the Taoiseach spoke of the need to maintain a stable working executive in Northern Ireland and said violence had no place in the future of the island or Ireland.

Referring to the current impasse between the DUP and Sinn Fein over the devolution of policing, Gordon Brown said he was 'realistic about the challenges and optimistic about the outcome'.

It is the latest attempt to break the impasse over the devolution of policing and justice in Northern Ireland.

Sinn Féin want to set a firm date for the transfer of powers from Westminster to Stormont, but the DUP says there is not yet sufficient community confidence for policing devolution to take place.

They broke off their talks to allow Mr Brown hold a video conference with President Obama.

During the break, Mr Brown said both governments would continue to work with the parties to overcome the outstanding obstacles.

When they broke in the middle of talks Gordon Brown said both governments would continue to work with the parties to overcome the outstanding obstacles and that he was realistic about the challenges and optimistic about the outcome.

Mr Cowen said that a stable working executive in Northern Ireland was best placed to look after the current economic difficulties and said he would continue to work with the parties for the early completion of the devolution and policing.

The Taoiseach added that violence had no place in the future of the island.

The two men are expected to continue their discussions when they meet at next week's European Council meeting in Brussels.