concessions to republicans.

The Traditional Unionist Voice leader said: "So, far from being over, the days of drip, drip concessions to Sinn Fein are back.

"Presented with the choice of facing down Sinn Fein and its bully-boy tactics, or taking the opportunity to get rid of mandatory coalition, the DUP, for the sake of office, has chosen David Trimble's well-trod path of a new tranche of concessions to IRA/Sinn Fein.

"It was Sinn Fein that had the shopping list and it is Sinn Fein's boxes which are being ticked today."

He accused the DUP leadership of fudging the deal.

He said: "Weren't we told at St Andrews all issues were settled to unionist satisfaction, and if they weren't, then we had an insurmountable veto?

"Such was the spirit of bravado that Peter Robinson competed with Nigel Dodds to say how many political lifetimes would pass before policing and justice would be devolved.

"Now, we're talking months, not eons, and the guarantee of no Sinn Fein minister runs out in 2012."

He added: "We can be certain that this is not a standalone deal on policing and justice. I have little doubt that it encompasses the Irish language, the Maze shrine and education.

"The detail will eventually emerge, but in consequence of today we will have more of the Irish language foisted on us.

"The distinction between a formal Irish Language Act and the progressive delivery of an Irish Language Strategy will be more in form than substance."

Ulster Unionist MLA David McNarry said: "My understanding is that Sinn Fein will, once policing and justice is secured, insist upon the Irish language being an equal language to English and spoken by all PSNI officers, used for cautions, arrests, charging procedures and all processes leading to and including court appearances.

"Sinn Fein will deny this, plead ignorance and try to make policing and justice and an Irish Language Act each separate issues.

"They are and should be treated, quite correctly, as separate issues but that is not the sinisterism behind republican thinking.

"With policing and justice in the bag Sinn Fein will move to link it to the full utilization of Irish language usage as a rights issue in the administration of law and order – this cannot be allowed to go by default."

A DUP spokesman said: "The DUP has been very clear that it will not support the introduction of a costly Irish Language Act. Those who suggest that the DUP would support such legislation are simply scaremongering and making mischief.

"The party has consistently said that there must be parity in cultural funding and through devolution we have been restoring equality in that regard."

And North Belfast DUP MLA Nelson McCausland hailed the announcement regarding the devolution of justice powers as a good deal for unionism.

He said that that all sensible unionists will welcome the announcement.