Adams slams 'amateurish' talks as Kenny and Cameron leave North without deal

They focused on the issue of flags, parades and the legacy of The Troubles.

Mr Cameron said that although progress had been made, an overall agreement could not be reached.

However, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he was confident politicians in the North would eventually negotiate a deal.

"I do believe politicians here will be able to cobcclude the outstanding areas of agreement," he said.

Gerry Adams has tweeted the talks were "ham-fisted".

2 Govts exiting after most amateurish ham fisted episode I have ever been involved in.

— Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) December 12, 2014

David Cameron said he had tabled a financial package amounting to £1bn would only be made available to the Executive if an agreement can be reached on outstanding disputes.

Many of the North's politicians are unhappy at the scale of the financial offer made, with some describing it as “derisory”.

As well as long-standing disputes over flags, parades and the legacy of the past, the five parties in the power-sharing coalition are trying to achieve consensus on budgetary problems facing the devolved institutions, particularly the impasse over the non-implementation of the UK government's welfare reforms in the North.

The structures and governance arrangements at Stormont are also on the agenda - but the most pressing issue is the budgetary situation.

Ministers in Belfast have already had to ask for an emergency £100m loan from the Treasury to balance their books this financial year, and if a deal on welfare reform is not agreed they will face about £200m of Government penalties for non-implementation.

As it is unlikely the administration would be able to absorb such a financial burden, the future of the Executive effectively depends on a resolution to the welfare reform issue.