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Prime Minister Brown on NI visit Prime Minister Brown on NI visit
(about 1 hour later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is making his first visit to Northern Ireland since taking over from Tony Blair at Downing Street. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is in Northern Ireland for the first time since taking over from Tony Blair at Downing Street.
He will meet Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and the leaders of the devolved UK governments at a summit of the British-Irish Council at Stormont. He is meeting Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and the leaders of the devolved UK governments at a summit of the British-Irish Council at Stormont.
Northern Ireland's executive ministers are expected to call again for a peace dividend at the meeting. Mr Brown said he was pleased devolution had returned to Northern Ireland.
"I believe that we have entered into a new, historic time for Northern Ireland," he said.
"I want to work with all politicians here to make a success of the new devolution arrangements."
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.
The BBC has learned Mr Brown is to have a separate meeting with the first and deputy first ministers and Finance Minister Peter Robinson on the issue of financial support for the executive.
Strategic transport links in Britain and Ireland will also be discussed.Strategic transport links in Britain and Ireland will also be discussed.
The council is viewed by unionists as an important counter to the agreement's cross-border all-Ireland institutions.
Since its first meeting in the 1990s, nationalists have come into power in Scotland and Wales and the DUP and Sinn Fein are dominant in Northern Ireland.
'Central role''Central role'
BBC NI politicial editor Mark Devenport said: "As chancellor, Mr Brown played a central role in the negotiations which paved the way towards the restoration of devolution.BBC NI politicial editor Mark Devenport said: "As chancellor, Mr Brown played a central role in the negotiations which paved the way towards the restoration of devolution.
"Those talks didn't produce as much as local politicians wanted. But they did lead to a delay in water charges."Those talks didn't produce as much as local politicians wanted. But they did lead to a delay in water charges.
"Today, executive ministers will renew their call for a peace dividend. They will also present a paper on strategic transport links throughout Britain and Ireland.""Today, executive ministers will renew their call for a peace dividend. They will also present a paper on strategic transport links throughout Britain and Ireland."
The council brings together eight governments representing Westminster, Dublin, devolved nations, the Channel Isles and the Isle of Man.The council brings together eight governments representing Westminster, Dublin, devolved nations, the Channel Isles and the Isle of Man.
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.
There will be coverage of Monday's meeting on Radio Ulster's Talkback programme and in Stormont Live on BBC 2 at 1200 BST - which will also be streamed online.There will be coverage of Monday's meeting on Radio Ulster's Talkback programme and in Stormont Live on BBC 2 at 1200 BST - which will also be streamed online.