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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Emergency bill on NI devolution | Emergency bill on NI devolution |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Emergency legislation is to be rushed through Parliament to give effect to the historic power-sharing deal brokered in Northern Ireland. | Emergency legislation is to be rushed through Parliament to give effect to the historic power-sharing deal brokered in Northern Ireland. |
| Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams have agreed to share power on 8 May. | Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams have agreed to share power on 8 May. |
| Commons leader Jack Straw said MPs and peers will be asked to back the bill, which delays devolution by six weeks, due to "exceptional circumstances". | Commons leader Jack Straw said MPs and peers will be asked to back the bill, which delays devolution by six weeks, due to "exceptional circumstances". |
| The government hopes the bill will be law by midnight on Tuesday. Opposition parties have pledged their support. | The government hopes the bill will be law by midnight on Tuesday. Opposition parties have pledged their support. |
| Meanwhile, there is growing speculation that the MEP Jim Allister may be about to resign from the DUP. | Meanwhile, there is growing speculation that the MEP Jim Allister may be about to resign from the DUP. |
| Mr Allister is known to be opposed to the DUP executive resolution committing to power-sharing with Sinn Fein in May. | Mr Allister is known to be opposed to the DUP executive resolution committing to power-sharing with Sinn Fein in May. |
| He has called a news conference for Tuesday. | |
| Devolved government is to return to Northern Ireland following an historic meeting between the leaders of the DUP and Sinn Fein on Monday. | |
| On Monday, Mr Paisley said the DUP would fully participate in government. Mr Adams said it was a "new era". | On Monday, Mr Paisley said the DUP would fully participate in government. Mr Adams said it was a "new era". |
| Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness - set to be deputy first minister - said a lot of work had been done in the background before Monday's agreement. | |
| "Obviously this agreement didn't come out of thin air. There was a considerable amount of work done in the days leading up to it," Mr McGuinness said. | |
| He said it was vital that the DUP and Sinn Fein now make a joint approach to Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown to try to build on the economic package on offer to Northern Ireland. | |
| "I think the impact of yesterday's developments will not be lost on anyone, least of all the chancellor and the British prime minister. We've a very strong hand, a very strong case to make." | |
| There will be many in this House and beyond who would never have expected such a development in their own lifetimes Jack Straw Analysis: End of the hatred | |
| Hailing the "extraordinary significance" of the deal, Jack Straw later told the Commons it was right the House should do all it could to facilitate moves towards a "final political settlement" in Northern Ireland. | Hailing the "extraordinary significance" of the deal, Jack Straw later told the Commons it was right the House should do all it could to facilitate moves towards a "final political settlement" in Northern Ireland. |
| "There will be many in this House and beyond who would never have expected such a development in their own lifetimes," he said. | "There will be many in this House and beyond who would never have expected such a development in their own lifetimes," he said. |
| Shadow leader of the House, Theresa May, pledged Conservative co-operation to get the bill through Parliament and paid tribute to those who brought about the deal. | Shadow leader of the House, Theresa May, pledged Conservative co-operation to get the bill through Parliament and paid tribute to those who brought about the deal. |
| David Heath, for the Liberal Democrats, described the agreement as "extraordinary and welcome news" | David Heath, for the Liberal Democrats, described the agreement as "extraordinary and welcome news" |
| On Monday, Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was a very important day for the people of Northern Ireland. | |
| Historic day: The two leaders sat side by side at StormontEnlarge Image | Historic day: The two leaders sat side by side at StormontEnlarge Image |
| Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said this had "the potential to transform the future of this island". | Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said this had "the potential to transform the future of this island". |
| Chancellor Gordon Brown had promised an extra £1bn if devolution was back on 26 March on top of £35bn pledged by the government over four years. | Chancellor Gordon Brown had promised an extra £1bn if devolution was back on 26 March on top of £35bn pledged by the government over four years. |
| The British and Irish governments had said they would shut the assembly if an executive was not agreed on Monday. | The British and Irish governments had said they would shut the assembly if an executive was not agreed on Monday. |
| However, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said: "When you have got both major parties saying we will deliver... that gives me confidence that this process is finally achieved." | However, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said: "When you have got both major parties saying we will deliver... that gives me confidence that this process is finally achieved." |
| The DUP and Sinn Fein emerged as the two largest parties in the recent assembly election. | The DUP and Sinn Fein emerged as the two largest parties in the recent assembly election. |
| The power-sharing executive will have four DUP ministers, three Sinn Fein, two UUP and one SDLP. | The power-sharing executive will have four DUP ministers, three Sinn Fein, two UUP and one SDLP. |
| 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. |