A deal taking shape?

BBC NI chief security correspondent Brian Rowan looks at the shape of a possible deal to break the deadlock over the Good Friday Agreement.

In the grand setting of Weston Park, the British and Irish governments hoped that new light would shine out of old windows.

They were hoping that after months and months of trying, doors would open and some way would be found out of the deadlock in Northern Ireland's talks process.

Events have proven that there are many complicated issues yet to settle.

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More than a year ago, the IRA spelt out its terms for putting "arms beyond use" - a context in which policing change and demilitarisation are key demands.

More movement on the latter will depend on how the security forces read the threat posed by republican dissidents who oppose the process, and how they assess the capability of the mainstream IRA, an organisation which remains intact and armed.

What the IRA does will determine the security response.

But, in the right circumstances, there is a willingness to dismantle security bases in Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, and Magherafelt, County Londonderry. There is also willingness to remove two of the hilltop watchtowers in south Armagh.

The other dozen or so army posts would be prioritised for future removal.

Two-way process

But it is being emphasised that this is a two-way process - and that movement on one side will trigger movement from the other.

Nationalists and republicans believe the British Government diluted Chris Patten's proposals for policing change in Northern Ireland and that the Police Act does not reflect all of what the Patten Commission intended.

Here again, in the right circumstances, there is the possibility of movement.

Patten recommended a new 19-member Policing Board with powers to carry out inquiries.

But the SDLP and Sinn Fein believe obstacles have been built into the Police Act.

Now, there are suggestions that some legislative change is possible to bring the Act more into line with what the Patten Commission proposed.

Public inquiries?

Another possibility is more positive language from the government on the issue of public inquiries into the deaths of Catholics Pat Finucane, Rosemary Nelson and Robert Hamill - all murdered by loyalists.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has called for plastic bullets to be "put beyond use".

A substitute has not yet been found but the next report on research into finding an alternative is due in October.

That is expected to bring forward proposals for other equipment to be used as alternatives to plastic bullets in certain situations.

The SDLP has acknowledged some advances on the policing and demilitarisation issues, but not yet enough to satisfy them.

Break in talks

One senior party figure described the negotiations at Weston Park as "fluid".

It was "work in progress" and there was still "a lot to progress".

But what the IRA intends in relation to putting its weapons beyond use has not been clarified and until there is some clarity, the full potential for movement on policing and demilitarisation cannot be assessed.

Mr Adams wants to see a strategic plan from the government addressing all issues.

The government wants the IRA to begin to get rid of its weapons and the two sides continue to stare each other out.

There is no sign yet of anyone blinking and the negotiations will only work if there is significant movement from both sides. Nothing is guaranteed.