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Deal to see devolution in April Obama hails 'important' NI deal
(about 4 hours later)
A deal between NI's biggest parties, the DUP and Sinn Fein, could see policing and justice powers devolved to Northern Ireland on 12 April. US President Barack Obama has hailed the Northern Ireland policing deal as "an important step".
The President will meet First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness in Washington on St Patrick's Day.
Policing and justice powers could be devolved to NI on 12 April following the deal between the DUP and Sinn Fein.
A cross-community vote on devolving the powers will be held in the NI Assembly on 9 March.A cross-community vote on devolving the powers will be held in the NI Assembly on 9 March.
Every DUP assembly member present backed the deal late on Thursday night. President Obama will also host the Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen at the White House on 17 March.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who was in NI, said the agreement was possible because of "a new spirit of mutual cooperation and respect". He said he appreciated the contribution of Mr Cowen and Gordon Brown to the agreement which he called "an important step on the pathway to greater peace and prosperity for all communities on the island."
Agreement was struck late on Thursday night after a meeting of the Democratic Unionist Party Assembly team.
Every MLA present backed the deal just before 0000 GMT.
Mr Brown, who arrived in NI on Friday, said the agreement was possible because of "a new spirit of mutual cooperation and respect".
"We are closing the last chapter of a long and troubled story and we are opening a new chapter for Northern Ireland," he said."We are closing the last chapter of a long and troubled story and we are opening a new chapter for Northern Ireland," he said.
Disagreement on the timing of the devolution of the justice powers had threatened to collapse Northern Ireland's power-sharing administration.Disagreement on the timing of the devolution of the justice powers had threatened to collapse Northern Ireland's power-sharing administration.
'Sound deal''Sound deal'
Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen said the deal was "an essential step for peace, stability and security in Northern Ireland" which laid the foundations for a better future.Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen said the deal was "an essential step for peace, stability and security in Northern Ireland" which laid the foundations for a better future.
Northern Ireland First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson said: "Over recent weeks there may have been great frustration out in the community.Northern Ireland First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson said: "Over recent weeks there may have been great frustration out in the community.
"But there would have been even greater frustration if we did a deal that collapsed. So it is far better that we spend the extra time and we get it right.""But there would have been even greater frustration if we did a deal that collapsed. So it is far better that we spend the extra time and we get it right."
He said the DUP's assembly members had unanimously supported the way forward. "This is a sound deal and one that I can recommend," he added. ANALYSIS Mark Devenport, BBC NI political editor
The five sections of the deal
The first on policing and justice will set a date of 12 April as date for the devolution of policing and justice powers. It will also deal with the operational independence of the chief constable.
Secondly, a working group to look at reforming the regulation of parades will be set up. That group will report back within a month with a view to getting legislation to the Assembly by June.
Thirdly, there will be details laying out the relationship between the Justice Minister and the rest of the Executive.
Fourthly, there will be a commitment to tackle the "dysfunctionality" of the Executive. The two ministers from smaller coalition parties, the SDLP and UUP, will take the lead in this.
Fifthly, there will a move to free legislation which has become "trapped" in the system.
Agreement in full A truly historic deal? Policing and justice: Key points Reaction: Policing and justice
The deputy first minister, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness, said: "We are dealing with centuries old difficulties here.The deputy first minister, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness, said: "We are dealing with centuries old difficulties here.
"If we are to succeed as a government, we have to show people at grassroots level that we can work together. The last thing that we want to do, while the eyes of the world are on us, is to fail.""If we are to succeed as a government, we have to show people at grassroots level that we can work together. The last thing that we want to do, while the eyes of the world are on us, is to fail."
Gordon Brown: "This is the day we have secured the future"
He added: "This might just be the day when the political process in the north came of age."He added: "This might just be the day when the political process in the north came of age."
A round table session of the assembly to discuss the deal took place on Friday morning attended by the two prime ministers.A round table session of the assembly to discuss the deal took place on Friday morning attended by the two prime ministers.
However, the Ulster Unionist Party did not attend it because it was not told what the agreement contained before it was made public.However, the Ulster Unionist Party did not attend it because it was not told what the agreement contained before it was made public.
Party leader Sir Reg Empey said he would be seeking clarification form Gordon Brown on the document.Party leader Sir Reg Empey said he would be seeking clarification form Gordon Brown on the document.
He refused to say whether the UUP would take part in planned discussions about a new justice minister on Monday.He refused to say whether the UUP would take part in planned discussions about a new justice minister on Monday.
It had been expected that the parties would offer the justice ministry to the cross-community Alliance but the UUP chief whip Fred Cobain said his party would not accept such a move.It had been expected that the parties would offer the justice ministry to the cross-community Alliance but the UUP chief whip Fred Cobain said his party would not accept such a move.
The normal procedure of electing ministers using the D'Hondt mechanism would give the ministry to the SDLP and Mr Cobain said acting outside D'Hondt was "gerrymandering".The normal procedure of electing ministers using the D'Hondt mechanism would give the ministry to the SDLP and Mr Cobain said acting outside D'Hondt was "gerrymandering".
He added: "We have been trumpeting this for months. We think the Alliance party have prostituted themselves over the issue of the justice ministry for months.He added: "We have been trumpeting this for months. We think the Alliance party have prostituted themselves over the issue of the justice ministry for months.
ANALYSIS Mark Devenport, BBC NI political editor
The five sections of the deal
The first on policing and justice will set a date of 12 April as date for the devolution of policing and justice powers. It will also deal with the operational independence of the chief constable.
Secondly, a working group to look at reforming the regulation of parades will be set up. That group will report back within a month with a view to getting legislation to the Assembly by June.
Thirdly, there will be details laying out the relationship between the Justice Minister and the rest of the Executive.
Fourthly, there will be a commitment to tackle the "dysfunctionality" of the Executive. The two ministers from smaller coalition parties, the SDLP and UUP, will take the lead in this.
Fifthly, there will a move to free legislation which has become "trapped" in the system.
Agreement in full A truly historic deal? Policing and justice: Key points Reaction: Policing and justice
"We are not in favour of gerrymandering anything and we won't support Alliance because they have no democratic right.""We are not in favour of gerrymandering anything and we won't support Alliance because they have no democratic right."
The DUP agreed to back the deal after 10 days of talks with Sinn Fein, the British and Irish prime ministers and other parties on the issue.The DUP agreed to back the deal after 10 days of talks with Sinn Fein, the British and Irish prime ministers and other parties on the issue.
The deal includes new arrangements on the oversight of loyalist parades. The deal was announced at Hillsborough Castle on Friday
The Orange Order, Northern Ireland's biggest loyal marching order, said it would examine the deal in detail. The deal was also welcomed by Alliance Party leader David Ford: "This is what the people of Northern Ireland have waited so long to hear and it means that the Executive can get back to the real work of providing quality services and strengthening our economy."
"Our initial reaction is that it is a positive step forward and we are pleased that people have been focusing on the issue of parading," it said.
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams welcomed the DUP's decision to back the deal and said: "There's a wonderful chance now in a new spirit for us all to go forward."
He said there had not been enough movement on the Irish language but that was "work for another day".
PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott welcomed the agreement to devolve policing powers.
"This now provides the Police Service of Northern Ireland with the certainty required to plan for the future," he said.
The DUP decision was also welcomed by Alliance Party leader David Ford, who is widely tipped to be the new justice minister.
He said: "This is what the people of Northern Ireland have waited so long to hear and it means that the Executive can get back to the real work of providing quality services and strengthening our economy."
SDLP leader Mark Durkan said he always thought a deal would be "scrambled over the line".SDLP leader Mark Durkan said he always thought a deal would be "scrambled over the line".
"We will have to take our turn with other parties in proofing what is proposed, not trying to create problems, but pre-empting any possible shortcomings or problems there are with it so we can actually improve it.""We will have to take our turn with other parties in proofing what is proposed, not trying to create problems, but pre-empting any possible shortcomings or problems there are with it so we can actually improve it."
SnowmenSnowmen
However, Traditional Unionist Voice, which opposes mandatory coalition with Sinn Fein, described the DUP as "snowmen who had melted".However, Traditional Unionist Voice, which opposes mandatory coalition with Sinn Fein, described the DUP as "snowmen who had melted".
Its leader Jim Allister said: "The DUP MLAs who buckled not only let themselves down, but, more importantly, let their country down."Its leader Jim Allister said: "The DUP MLAs who buckled not only let themselves down, but, more importantly, let their country down."
Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness emphasised the importance of the deal
Referring to the fact that 14 DUP assembly members reportedly voted against a deal on the table on Monday, he added: "The deal the DUP so meekly accepted is the same deal they rejected.Referring to the fact that 14 DUP assembly members reportedly voted against a deal on the table on Monday, he added: "The deal the DUP so meekly accepted is the same deal they rejected.
"The deal hasn't changed, only the snowmen of the DUP who melted once the heat came on.""The deal hasn't changed, only the snowmen of the DUP who melted once the heat came on."
The relationship between Sinn Fein and the DUP 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 has been strained for some time because they disagreed about the timetable for the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont.