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| Hain hails DUP power-sharing move | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has hailed an agreement by the DUP to commit to a firm date for entering government with Sinn Fein. | Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has hailed an agreement by the DUP to commit to a firm date for entering government with Sinn Fein. |
| "It's never happened before, it's of huge historic significance," he said. | "It's never happened before, it's of huge historic significance," he said. |
| The DUP has agreed to share power with Sinn Fein - if the government delays its devolution deadline by six weeks. | The DUP has agreed to share power with Sinn Fein - if the government delays its devolution deadline by six weeks. |
| Mr Hain insisted that Stormont would be dissolved if Monday's deadline was not met - but said if parties could agree an alternative, he was open to that. | Mr Hain insisted that Stormont would be dissolved if Monday's deadline was not met - but said if parties could agree an alternative, he was open to that. |
| Mr Hain will sign an order later restoring power to the Stormont assembly. | |
| The move comes despite the DUP's decision that they will not nominate ministers to a power-sharing executive on Monday. | |
| Negotiations | Negotiations |
| On Saturday, the DUP's ruling executive overwhelmingly passed a resolution understood to offer a definite date, in May, for going into government with Sinn Fein. | On Saturday, the DUP's ruling executive overwhelmingly passed a resolution understood to offer a definite date, in May, for going into government with Sinn Fein. |
| DUP leader Ian Paisley said the details of the resolution would be released after negotiations with the government were concluded. | DUP leader Ian Paisley said the details of the resolution would be released after negotiations with the government were concluded. |
| Ian Paisley said his party will share power, but not this week | Ian Paisley said his party will share power, but not this week |
| "The Ulster people will be persuaded, they will not be driven," he told reporters after the DUP meeting. | "The Ulster people will be persuaded, they will not be driven," he told reporters after the DUP meeting. |
| The party said it was willing to bridge the gap between now and then with preparatory work, "including departmental pre-briefings and finalising a programme for government". | |
| Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said the DUP was seeking to "frustrate the will of the electorate". | Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said the DUP was seeking to "frustrate the will of the electorate". |
| "If the DUP wants a functioning assembly after 26 March this can only happen through direct dialogue and agreement with Sinn Fein and the other parties," he said. | "If the DUP wants a functioning assembly after 26 March this can only happen through direct dialogue and agreement with Sinn Fein and the other parties," he said. |
| "In the meantime the two governments must now proceed to put in place their all-Ireland partnership arrangements." | "In the meantime the two governments must now proceed to put in place their all-Ireland partnership arrangements." |
| Financial package | Financial package |
| Mr Paisley held talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair twice within 48 hours this week. | Mr Paisley held talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair twice within 48 hours this week. |
| After the second meeting, Downing Street reiterated that Monday's deadline stood. | After the second meeting, Downing Street reiterated that Monday's deadline stood. |
| Mr Paisley said a "great deal of ground" had been covered. | Mr Paisley said a "great deal of ground" had been covered. |
| However, he earlier said a financial package offered by Chancellor Gordon Brown did not meet Northern Ireland's economic needs. | However, he earlier said a financial package offered by Chancellor Gordon Brown did not meet Northern Ireland's economic needs. |
| Mr Brown has promised an extra £1bn if devolution is back on Monday. | Mr Brown has promised an extra £1bn if devolution is back on Monday. |
| The cash is on top of £35bn promised by the government over four years. | The cash is on top of £35bn promised by the government over four years. |
| The Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended since October 2002, amid allegations of an IRA spy ring at Stormont. | The Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended since October 2002, amid allegations of an IRA spy ring at Stormont. |
| A subsequent court case collapsed. Direct rule has been in place since that date. | A subsequent court case collapsed. Direct rule has been in place since that date. |