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First cabinet meeting in months NI Executive returns to business
(about 10 hours later)
Northern Ireland's ministers will be back around the cabinet table later for the first time in five months. The Northern Ireland Executive is expected to confirm water charges will be deferred for another year.
On Tuesday, the DUP and Sinn Féin came to an agreement on the devolution of policing and justice powers, an issue which had been causing stalemate. The cabinet is meeting for the first time in almost five months on Thursday and will be discussing how it can help alleviate the economic downturn.
The ministers will discuss what they should do about the backlog of papers caused by the Executive's hiatus. There will also be an update on the latest arrangements to devolve policing and justice powers.
Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness will also brief colleagues on their talks with the prime minister. The executive intends to meet weekly from now on until a five-month backlog is addressed.
The first and deputy first minister were pressing Gordon Brown on Wednesday for extra financial aid for Northern Ireland. On Tuesday, the DUP and Sinn Féin came to an agreement on policing and justice, an issue which had been causing stalemate.
Speaking before the executive meeting, First Minister Peter Robinson said: "You're going to see the sort of work plan we have set out for ourselves, which indicates very clearly that we are getting down to work.
"We are intending to do all the business in front of us."
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said he believed problems between the parties had been resolved.
"We've had our difficulties over recent times, but I believe we have resolved them to the satisfaction of both parties," he said.
"Throughout those difficulties Peter Robinson and I never fell out - we didn't go into a corner and huff, we got together and sat down, day, after day, after day."
Positive meeting
The anticipated good news on water charges follows a positive meeting in Downing Street on Wednesday between the first and deputy first ministers and the prime minister.
Also due to be announced are changes to the rural planning policy - the controversial PPS14, which restricts building in the countryside, may be liberalised.
There is also expected to be agreement on the creation of a new education and skills authority.
Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness will also brief colleagues on their talks with the prime minister.
The last time the executive met was on 19 June, after which Sinn Féin refused to sign off on meetings until there was progress on issues such as the devolution of policing and justice.The last time the executive met was on 19 June, after which Sinn Féin refused to sign off on meetings until there was progress on issues such as the devolution of policing and justice.
A definite date has still not yet been set, but Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness have agreed a series of steps designed to bring this about.A definite date has still not yet been set, but Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness have agreed a series of steps designed to bring this about.
The pair are also expected to update their cabinet colleagues on this.