Secretary of State Theresa Villiers, said:
The tone of today’s opening meeting was genuinely constructive. All participants acknowledged that it was vital to resolve the issues on the agenda. The institutions are at risk if this process fails. Northern Ireland’s political leaders have achieved great things working together in the past. I hope this process will deliver real progress on implementing the Stormont House Agreement and dealing with issues around paramilitaries, to help build a brighter more secure future for Northern Ireland.”