Political parties pressing for more from funding deal with UK government
A Government offer of a £2.5 billion financial package to support the return of the Stormont executive is a "short-term sugar rush", Alliance Party deputy leader Stephen Farry has said.
Representatives from the five main Stormont parties will return to Hillsborough Castle on Tuesday for technical talks on the offer.
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris outlined the details to party leaders on Monday as part of an attempt to stabilise the region's finances and encourage a return of the powesharing institutions.
But the party leaders have said the package, which includes a lump sum to settle public sector pay claims, does not contain enough money.
Sinn Fein has said Wednesday should be a cut-off point for talks with the Government, while the DUP has insisted there is some way to go both in talks on public finances and on discussions to reach a deal on post-Brexit trade arrangements.
Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy has said it is "very clear there is still no reason" for the Northern Ireland Executive not to be in place, as he called on the DUP to end its boycott.
Speaking to reporters at Hillsborough Castle, Mr Murphy said a working executive engaging with the Government is the best possible way to get required financial supports for Northern Ireland's public services.
"We would once again call on the DUP to end this boycott of the Executive, to allow us to get back to work so we don't have to come up and visit places like this and talk about what might be and what could be, but talk about what actually is."
Asked if he felt Sinn Fein was not being listened to during the talks with the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), Mr Murphy added: "This isn't a real negotiation, let's not be fooled by that.
"This is a presentation of the NIO of some grand plan that they've come up with that falls short of what is needed.
"A real negotiation would be with a first and deputy first minister over to London to talk to a British Prime Minister, supported by other Executive ministers talking to the Treasury."
DUP MLA Gordon Lyons said his party returning to Stormont was not enough to bring financial stability to Northern Ireland.
Speaking following discussions with NIO officials at Hillsborough Castle, Mr Lyons said: "It is very important that we get this right and that we get our finances on a sustainable footing, not just for next year but into the future as well.
"We want to make sure we get that commitment from the Government that they are going to properly fund our needs, that hasn't happened for a number of years, that is why we are facing so many difficulties today.
"The reality is we need to see that funding in place and that funding is not there. That is what we are looking to resolve."
He added: "Going back to Stormont in of itself does not resolve these issues.
"You need the funding in order to ensure we get the outcome everybody wants to see.
"The truth is that Northern Ireland has not been funded according to its need over the last number of years and that is why we are facing the difficulties we are currently facing.
"I don't believe that what the Government has put on the table is adequate to address what we face and that is what a large point of the conversations have been, showing them where additional funding is required.
"We are not asking for any more than what other devolved administrations are getting."