The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has agreed a deal restore power sharing to Northern Ireland, subject to legislation by the UK government.
The party collapsed the power-sharing government nearly two years ago in protest against post-Brexit trade arrangements that have created trade barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says his party will restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland, subject to the UK government tabling and passing new legislative measures as agreed in negotiations.
He said the package of measures, once delivered, would provide the basis for the return of devolved government.
Sir Jeffrey said he believed the deal would safeguard Northern Ireland’s place within the UK and crucially from the DUP’s point of view, would remove checks on goods moving within the UK and remaining in Northern Ireland.
Analysis: Protests outside and leaks from inside but the deal to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland is done
What is power sharing and why is the system used?
But he warned that the DUP would only be able to move after the UK government delivers on implementing the agreement.
“Both our party officers and party executive have mandated me to move forward… on the basis of the proposals brought forward by the government, subject to and on the basis of the government delivering measures of that package,” he said.
Sir Jeffrey described the vote as “decisive” and, although the specific details of the deal have yet to be published, he said he was “confident” in the progress that had been achieved.
He also said that he believed the government could move “quickly” to bring forward legislation to implement what had been agreed.
Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn Fein leader, said she was “optimistic” having heard the news from Sir Jeffrey.
“Sinn Féin will now engage with the parties and both governments to ensure we now all press on without delay,” she said.
“It is vital there is political stability to address the scale of the crisis across our public services.
“Let’s now focus minds on the job at hand and to the solutions required to support workers and families who want and deserve functioning government.”
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton Harris welcomed the step and made clear the Government would deliver on its end of the deal.
Northern Ireland has a different type of governance from the rest of the UK in response to decades of conflict within the country.
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What is in the new post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland?
The country operates under a power-sharing model devised as part of the Good Friday Agreement.
Unlike an agreed coalition, where at least two parties agree to govern together to form a government (like Britain’s Conservative-Lib Dem coalition from 2010-15), it is mandatory for Northern Ireland‘s political parties to share power.
There must be representatives from both nationalist parties, who want Irish unity, and unionists, who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the UK.
The Northern Ireland Executive is made up of the first and deputy first ministers and their cabinet.
One of the top jobs at Stormont must be unionist and one nationalist, with equal powers, and one cannot be in position without the other.
With Sinn Fein now the biggest party, they will chose the first minister while the DUP will pick the deputy first minister.
Certain decisions require cross-community support, including the election of the speaker and deputy speakers, and budget allocations.
When the parliament finally convenes again electing a new speaker will be the first order of business as it cannot sit without one.
