VIDEO: Parties agree historic deal
THE DUP and Sinn Fein have reached an agreement ensuring justice powers are devolved to Stormont.
Premiers Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen travelled to Hillsborough to seal a political deal following days of intensive negotiations.
The British and Irish premiers met all of the political parties before revealing the terms of the agreement between the DUP and Sinn Fein.
VOTE: Will the Hillsborough Agreement mark a final solution to Northern Ireland's political woes?
However the Ulster Unionist Party did not attend the plenary session, stating it was not party to the negotiations.
Under the terms of the agreement, justice powers could be devolved to Stormont on April 12.
Assembly members will partake in a cross-community vote on March 9 on the issue.
A member of the Alliance Party - most likely to be leader David Ford - is expected to be the occupant of the new justice ministry -
The parties have secured funding of 800m from the British Government.
A six-member working group is to be established to deal with controversial loyal order parades and is expected to report within three weeks.
Hailing the agreement, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "This moment and this agreement belongs to the people of Northern Ireland, all of the people, and now more than ever before so does their future."
He added: "This is the last chapter of a long and troubled story and the beginning of a new chapter after decades of violence, years of talks, weeks of stalemate."
Speaking at a joint press conference, First Minister Peter Robinson said: "There are some who will play politics with this agreement but the real focus in the months to come must be on building an administration at Stormont that our whole community identifies with and supports."
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said he believed the deal meant both communities could now live together in mutual respect.
The deal follows a week-and-a-half of intensive negotiations involving the governments and the main political parties.
Following a late night meeting at Stormont, DUP leader Peter Robinson emerged from talks with his Assembly team to say his party had unanimously backed the plan.
Earlier this week, it was reported as many as 14 of the 36 DUP MLAs had expressed concerns about the proposals.
Speaking after Thursday night's summit, one DUP sceptic MLA told the News Letter: "I'm very happy."
The politician, who was among those who were sceptical earlier this week, said all outstanding issues had been satisfactorily addressed.
Speaking anonymously in the early hours of this morning, the MLA would only say: "It is a very clever document."
He confirmed that all MLAs supported the deal last night.
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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