DEBATE: Does this deal mark a fresh start for Northern Ireland?
A LAST-MINUTE deal between Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein will see policing and justice powers transferred from Westminster to Belfast, in a breakthrough for the country's power-sharing government.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Taoiseach Brian Cowen arrived at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, today to seal an agreement between Northern Ireland's stricken power-sharing government.
It comes after nearly two weeks of round-the-clock negotiations and brings an end to fears the fragile government could have collapsed on the policing, justice and parades stand-off.
The British and Irish Premiers confirmed Northern Ireland will take on policing and justice powers within a few weeks, satisfying a key republican goal, while new arrangements for overseeing loyal order parades will meet the demands of unionists.
Mr Brown said: “This is the last chapter of a long and troubled story and the beginning of a new chapter after decades of violence, years of talks, weeks of stalemate.”
The talks have been the longest set of continuous negotiations held in the near 20-year peace process.
DOES THIS DEAL GO FAR ENOUGH TO SOLVING NORTHERN IRELAND'S PROBLEMS? IS THIS A NEW BEGINNING FOR NORTHERN IRELAND?
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