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| PM Brown in first Stormont visit | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has made his first visit to Northern Ireland since taking over from Tony Blair. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has made his first visit to Northern Ireland since taking over from Tony Blair. |
| He met Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and the leaders of the devolved UK governments at a summit of the British-Irish Council at Stormont. | He met Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and the leaders of the devolved UK governments at a summit of the British-Irish Council at Stormont. |
| Before the meeting, Mr Brown said the government was providing a fair economic package for Northern Ireland. | |
| "The financial package is very big indeed - £51.5bn over the next few years," Mr Brown said. | "The financial package is very big indeed - £51.5bn over the next few years," Mr Brown said. |
| "It is to make possible the current expenditures of the Northern Ireland Assembly and to make possible a big programme of investment in the future." | "It is to make possible the current expenditures of the Northern Ireland Assembly and to make possible a big programme of investment in the future." |
| Gordon Brown said he was pleased devolution was back | Gordon Brown said he was pleased devolution was back |
| After meeting Mr Brown, Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley said the executive would continue to work to get the right package. | |
| "That is a task that we have to take on, both myself, the deputy (Martin McGuinness) and the other members of the government here," Mr Paisley said. | |
| Mr McGuinness said: "All of this is a work in progress, but the prime minister was at pains to say that he is here to help and that he recognises the economy is of critical importance." | |
| Devolution | |
| Earlier on Monday, Mr Brown said he was pleased devolution had returned to Northern Ireland. | |
| Mr Ahern said he looked forward to working with Mr Brown on the European agenda and co-operating with the UK on security and terrorism matters. | Mr Ahern said he looked forward to working with Mr Brown on the European agenda and co-operating with the UK on security and terrorism matters. |
| Mr Brown called for greater cooperation across Europe in sharing information on suspected terrorists. | Mr Brown called for greater cooperation across Europe in sharing information on suspected terrorists. |
| Meanwhile, the Ballycastle to Campbelltown Ferry could be restored following discussions at Monday's meeting. | |
| Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said there was strong political commitment to the project. | |
| The Scots have proposed that the route should be extended to Troon as this would increase the number of passengers and strengthen the business case for the service. | |
| On Tuesday, the North-South Ministerial Council meets in Armagh. | On Tuesday, the North-South Ministerial Council meets in Armagh. |
| Ministers will focus on co-operation over a new roads programme and on reopening another section of the Ulster Canal linking Upper Lough Erne with the Shannon. | Ministers will focus on co-operation over a new roads programme and on reopening another section of the Ulster Canal linking Upper Lough Erne with the Shannon. |
| The establishment of a North-South Parliamentary Forum is also on the agenda. | The establishment of a North-South Parliamentary Forum is also on the agenda. |