This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8499629.stm
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| DUP MLAs back deal with Sinn Fein | DUP MLAs back deal with Sinn Fein |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The DUP have said they have reached a basis for a deal with which they can move forward on the devolution of policing and justice. | The DUP have said they have reached a basis for a deal with which they can move forward on the devolution of policing and justice. |
| DUP assembly members gathered at Stormont at about 2200 GMT on Thursday. | DUP assembly members gathered at Stormont at about 2200 GMT on Thursday. |
| Party leader Peter Robinson told the media shortly before midnight that the decision to back the deal had been "unanimous" among the party's 35 MLAs. | Party leader Peter Robinson told the media shortly before midnight that the decision to back the deal had been "unanimous" among the party's 35 MLAs. |
| It is understood the British and Irish prime ministers may travel to NI on Friday. | It is understood the British and Irish prime ministers may travel to NI on Friday. |
| "We have had a very constructive meeting of our assembly group and I had the opportunity to put to them proposals which we have been working on," said Mr Robinson. | "We have had a very constructive meeting of our assembly group and I had the opportunity to put to them proposals which we have been working on," said Mr Robinson. |
| "Everyone present believes that this is consistent with our election manifesto and pledges we have made to the people. | "Everyone present believes that this is consistent with our election manifesto and pledges we have made to the people. |
| "We look forward to going tomorrow to Hillsborough and the document should be published." | "We look forward to going tomorrow to Hillsborough and the document should be published." |
| Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has welcomed the DUP's decision. | Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has welcomed the DUP's decision. |
| "We have been involved in what has been a lengthy stretch of negotiations," he said. | "We have been involved in what has been a lengthy stretch of negotiations," he said. |
| "I commend the Sinn Fein negotiating team. | "I commend the Sinn Fein negotiating team. |
| "I believe that the Assembly and political institutions can now proceed on the basis of equality, fairness and partnership. | "I believe that the Assembly and political institutions can now proceed on the basis of equality, fairness and partnership. |
| The DUP assembly team met for 90 minutes late on Thursday night | |
| "They also have to deliver for all citizens, that is the collective responsibility of all the political parties." | "They also have to deliver for all citizens, that is the collective responsibility of all the political parties." |
| Community confidence | Community confidence |
| On Thursday night Mr Robinson said there was a basis for a deal which he could recommend to his party and to the community. | On Thursday night Mr Robinson said there was a basis for a deal which he could recommend to his party and to the community. |
| "An essential element of the Democratic Unionist manifesto is the requirement for community confidence and we believe that this can be the basis of gaining that confidence," he said. | "An essential element of the Democratic Unionist manifesto is the requirement for community confidence and we believe that this can be the basis of gaining that confidence," he said. |
| "It does more than dealing with devolving further powers. It deals with how we deal with the powers that we have." | "It does more than dealing with devolving further powers. It deals with how we deal with the powers that we have." |
| Earlier on Thursday it emerged that policing and justice powers could be transferred to Northern Ireland in April if the DUP and Sinn Fein were able to reach a deal. | Earlier on Thursday it emerged that policing and justice powers could be transferred to Northern Ireland in April if the DUP and Sinn Fein were able to reach a deal. |
| Talks between the British and Irish governments, Sinn Fein and the DUP have been going on for the last 10 days. | Talks between the British and Irish governments, Sinn Fein and the DUP have been going on for the last 10 days. |
| On Tuesday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown told Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey the government would call a snap NI Assembly election rather than just suspending the institutions if the talks failed and the NI Executive collapsed. | On Tuesday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown told Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey the government would call a snap NI Assembly election rather than just suspending the institutions if the talks failed and the NI Executive collapsed. |
| The relationship between Sinn Fein and the DUP - Northern Ireland's two biggest political parties - has been strained for some time because they disagreed about the timetable for the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont. | The relationship between Sinn Fein and the DUP - Northern Ireland's two biggest political parties - has been strained for some time because they disagreed about the timetable for the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont. |