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| Northern Ireland first minister hails financial aid deal as ‘monumental’ | Northern Ireland first minister hails financial aid deal as ‘monumental’ |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Northern Ireland had taken a “monumental step forward” in securing a deal on most of the issues hanging over from the peace process, the first minister, Peter Robinson, has said. | Northern Ireland had taken a “monumental step forward” in securing a deal on most of the issues hanging over from the peace process, the first minister, Peter Robinson, has said. |
| Speaking at Stormont on Tuesday minutes after it emerged that an agreement had been brokered between the region’s five main parties, the first minister said he would be recommending to his Democratic Unionist party to back the new arrangement. Two more parties locked in marathon discussions in Northern Ireland – the Ulster Unionist party (UUP) and the Alliance party – have confirmed they are backing the deal. | Speaking at Stormont on Tuesday minutes after it emerged that an agreement had been brokered between the region’s five main parties, the first minister said he would be recommending to his Democratic Unionist party to back the new arrangement. Two more parties locked in marathon discussions in Northern Ireland – the Ulster Unionist party (UUP) and the Alliance party – have confirmed they are backing the deal. |
| The DUP leader said extra cash from the UK government had the potential to create 50,000 to 60,000 jobs. | The DUP leader said extra cash from the UK government had the potential to create 50,000 to 60,000 jobs. |
| The agreement is understood to cover a major cash injection for Northern Ireland in return for the parties agreeing to sweeping welfare reforms. It also encompasses a deal on how to examine the legacy of the Troubles and in particular the thousands of unsolved crimes from the conflict. | The agreement is understood to cover a major cash injection for Northern Ireland in return for the parties agreeing to sweeping welfare reforms. It also encompasses a deal on how to examine the legacy of the Troubles and in particular the thousands of unsolved crimes from the conflict. |
| Jeffrey Donaldson, one of Robinson’s fellow DUP negotiators during the 11 weeks of talks, stressed that the deal would not include amnesties or immunity from prosecution for wanted paramilitaries. | Jeffrey Donaldson, one of Robinson’s fellow DUP negotiators during the 11 weeks of talks, stressed that the deal would not include amnesties or immunity from prosecution for wanted paramilitaries. |
| Charlie Flanagan, Ireland’s foreign minister, also revealed on Tuesday that the deal would include establishing a commission to examine the issue of contentious parades and the flying of flags. | Charlie Flanagan, Ireland’s foreign minister, also revealed on Tuesday that the deal would include establishing a commission to examine the issue of contentious parades and the flying of flags. |
| Flanagan, who was co-chairing the talks with Theresa Villiers, Northern Ireland secretary, said the agreement set out a plan for financial and welfare reform, adding that an agreement “forged in the bleak mid-winter” would bring brighter days for the entire island. | Flanagan, who was co-chairing the talks with Theresa Villiers, Northern Ireland secretary, said the agreement set out a plan for financial and welfare reform, adding that an agreement “forged in the bleak mid-winter” would bring brighter days for the entire island. |
| He said: “Today we are building on the hard-won peace on this island with a new agreement which aims to further reconciliation and foster economic growth.” | He said: “Today we are building on the hard-won peace on this island with a new agreement which aims to further reconciliation and foster economic growth.” |
| The deal proposes devolving powers so that the local parties can decide on controversial parades. | The deal proposes devolving powers so that the local parties can decide on controversial parades. |
| Villiers said: “This is a reasonable and balanced agreement that opens the way to a more prosperous, stable and secured future for Northern Ireland. It responds to the wishes of the great majority of people in Northern Ireland, who clearly want their politicians to find an agreed way forward. | Villiers said: “This is a reasonable and balanced agreement that opens the way to a more prosperous, stable and secured future for Northern Ireland. It responds to the wishes of the great majority of people in Northern Ireland, who clearly want their politicians to find an agreed way forward. |
| “I pay tribute to all those involved, who have shown real leadership and imagination. We have had well over 100 hours of formal talks in this process, and a great deal more informal negotiation. | “I pay tribute to all those involved, who have shown real leadership and imagination. We have had well over 100 hours of formal talks in this process, and a great deal more informal negotiation. |
| “This is a historic agreement, giving us an agreed approach to some of the most difficult issues left over from Northern Ireland’s past. It offers us a new start, and a far more hopeful future.” | “This is a historic agreement, giving us an agreed approach to some of the most difficult issues left over from Northern Ireland’s past. It offers us a new start, and a far more hopeful future.” |
| All the parties – the DUP, Sinn Féin, the Social Democratic and Labour party, the UUP and the Alliance Party – have to each vote in favour of the agreement before the deal is fully ratified. | All the parties – the DUP, Sinn Féin, the Social Democratic and Labour party, the UUP and the Alliance Party – have to each vote in favour of the agreement before the deal is fully ratified. |
| The UUP leader, Mike Nesbitt, said that while no party could give the agreement 100% support, he would be recommending that his party give the deal “a fair wind”. | The UUP leader, Mike Nesbitt, said that while no party could give the agreement 100% support, he would be recommending that his party give the deal “a fair wind”. |
| The leader of the centrist Alliance party and justice minister, David Ford, said that while he would accept the paper proposed by the Irish and British governments it did not go far enough in meeting the needs of Northern Ireland. | The leader of the centrist Alliance party and justice minister, David Ford, said that while he would accept the paper proposed by the Irish and British governments it did not go far enough in meeting the needs of Northern Ireland. |
| More details to follow |