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Alliance leader David Ford today said his party would attend talks over the political deadlock caused by the transfer of policing and justice powers to Stormont.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is embroiled in a continuing row with Sinn Féin over devolution that now threatens the power-sharing government.

Mr Ford, who has been mooted as a possible new security minister if and when policing powers are devolved, said the party would attend talks in the autumn if invited.

“Certainly we are prepared to play a constructive role, we are prepared to engage.

“But I repeat again, we cannot solve the problems between the DUP and Sinn Féin at the level of total political immaturity that they are currently at,” he told BBC Radio Ulster.

Unionists have said there is insufficient public support for the devolution of justice powers and dismissed a target date of May this year for the transfer.

Sinn Féin has been demanding movement and this week threatened to pull its ministers out of government if progress is not made.

The deadlock between the two parties has led to the cancellation of cabinet meetings, but First Minister Peter Robinson has warned of serious consequences if an Executive meeting planned for September 18th is not held.

The transfer of the powers has been one of the most contentious issues since devolution was restored to Northern Ireland.