Emergency NI bill sets path ahead

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6501383.stm

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Emergency legislation has been rushed through Parliament to give effect to the historic power-sharing deal brokered in Northern Ireland.

At midnight on Tuesday, the St Andrews Agreement (No. 2) Bill became law.

It followed a lengthy debate in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords following the DUP's decision to share power with Sinn Fein.

Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams agreed to share power from 8 May, the date when devolved government will be restored.

Mr Paisley told the Commons on Tuesday that it was a "good day" for the House, for the United Kingdom and for the "people of Ireland, north and south".

The DUP leader said it was a "work-in" rather than "a love-in".