The Democratic Unionists Party (DUP) Friday, said it had reached a historic deal with Sinn Fein to share full power which would see devolution of policing and justice powers from London to Northern Ireland.
The agreement signalled the end of a nearly two-decade-long search for lasting peace in the region. The deal was clinched at the end of marathon discussions lasting 10 days with DUP led by its leader Peter Robinson.
Robinson said the path breaking agreement had the full backing of the DUP's 35 Assembly members. "We have had a very constructive meeting of our Assembly group and I had the opportunity to put to them proposals which we have been working on."
Welcoming the DUP decision, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said the Assembly and political institutions could now get down to the business of governance.
"They also have to deliver for all citizens, that is the collective responsibility of all the political parties," he said.
A plenary session of the Assembly is currently debating the terms of the agreement.
Welcoming the accord, David Ford, leader of the Alliance Party widely tipped to become the new Justice Minister, said the long waiting of the Irish people had finally ended in a happy conclusion.
However, the deal was severely criticised by the Traditional Unionist Voice ridiculing the DUP as "snowmen who had melted."
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.