Politicians in Northern Ireland meet later today at Stormont Castle, outside Belfast, to discuss details of cross-border bodies to be set up with the Irish Republic -- just two days before a deadline specified by the April Agreement.

The deal called for the identification of institutions over which the cross border bodies will have authority.

The leader of Sienn Fein, Gerry Adams has said the talks should go into permanent session until an agreement is reached on both the shape of the new Northen Ireland government and the future of the cross border bodies.