NI talks: First minister says agreement deadline should be end of the week
The first and deputy first ministers say they hope the inter-party talks will finish by the end of the week.
The prime minister and the Irish prime minister are expected to arrive in Northern Ireland on Thursday to try to broker a deal.
Parties in the Northern Ireland Executive have been negotiating over issues including budgets, welfare reform and the legacy of the Troubles.
BBC News NI Political Correspondent Chris Page reports.