Power sharing is to return to Northern Ireland after the Democratic Unionist Party has backed a deal to bring devolution back to Stormont.
For the last two years, a blockade has been put on devolution within the Northern Irish parliament however this boycott will now be dropped as the UK Government bring in the legislative assurances that were offered to the DUP.
With the boycott introduced due to the trade agreements that were put in place following Brexit, the new deal that has been agreed with the UK Government will remove the checks on goods that move between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Announced by Sir Jeffrey, legislation will also be introduced to ‘protect the Acts of Union.’
Leader of the DUP, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, said:
“I am pleased to report that the party executive has now endorsed the proposals that I have put to them.
"The party has concluded that subject to the binding commitments between the Democratic Unionist Party and the UK Government being fully and faithfully delivered as agreed, including the tabling and passing of new legislative measures in Parliament and final agreement on a timetable, the package of measures in totality does provide a basis for our party to nominate members to the Northern Ireland Executive, thus seeing the restoration of the locally elected institutions.”
Chris Heaton-Harris, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, stated:
“This is a welcome and significant step.
“I am grateful to Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and colleagues for the constructive dialogue over the past months and to the other political parties in Northern Ireland for the patience they have shown during this time.
“I am pleased that the DUP have agreed to accept the package of measures that the UK Government has put forward and as a result, they are ready to return to the Northern Ireland Assembly and nominate representatives to the Northern Ireland Executive.
“Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said this is subject to the binding commitments between the Democratic Unionist Party and the UK Government - I can confirm that we will stick to this agreement.
“I now believe that all the conditions are in place for the Assembly to return, the parties entitled to form an Executive are meeting today to discuss these matters and I hope to be able to finalise this deal with the political parties as soon as possible.”
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