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Il DUP annuncia: accordo raggiunto

DUP MLAs back devolution deal

The DUP MLAs have voted to back a deal with Sinn Fein to save Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government, Peter Robinson has announced.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Taoiseach Brian Cowen are now expected to travel to Belfast on Friday morning to put their seal on the deal on policing, justice and parades.

Flanked by DUP enterprise minister Arlene Foster and finance minister Sammy Wilson, Mr Robinson said all members of his party were behind the proposals.

Emerging from the two-hour meeting at Stormont, he said: “The assembly group asked questions and considered the matter and have unanimously supported the way forward.

“Everyone present believes this is consistent with our election manifesto and pledges that we have made to the people.

“We look forward to going to Hillsborough when the document should be published.”

Mr Robinson said he would now look to gain the support of the community and of the smaller Assembly parties for the agreement.

Mr Robinson said: “We have a basis upon which we can go forward and recommend it (the deal) to our party, to the other parties in Northern Ireland and to the community.

“An essential element of the Democratic Unionist Party’s manifesto is the requirement for community confidence, we believe this can be the basis for gaining that confidence.”

Sinn Fein has welcomed confirmation of the DUP decision.

“I welcome the DUP’s decision. We have been involved in what has been a lengthy stretch of negotiations”, Gerry Adams said.

“I believe that the Assembly and political institutions can now proceed on the basis of equality, fairness and partnership. They also have to deliver for all citizens, that is the collective responsibility of all the political parties.”

Devolution date

UTV understands that a date for the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont could be as early as April.

It was thought devolution would happen in May but according to UTV’s Political Editor Ken Reid that date could be as soon as April 12.

The other main sticking point of the deal was a DUP demand for the abolition of the Parades Commission, which adjudicates on contentious marches.

“The details of the parades negotiations will be interesting although one senior DUP source told me they thought it was a good deal”, Ken Reid said.

On Thursday night, the DUP negotiating team held last minute discussions with the government at Hillsborough Castle before briefing the party MLAS.

Peter Robinson is believed to have received clarification on the £800m package offered by Mr Brown to fund the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Assembly.

The unionist leadership was also updated on possible support for the 10,000 savers of the crisis-hit Presbyterian Mutual Society, which went into administration in October 2008.

Before the vote, the DUP Environment Minister Edwin Poots had told UTV he was confident an “acceptable” deal would be brokered.

“The DUP has been united and will remain united over the issue,” Mr Poots told UTV Live.

Earlier this week the party denied there was any split within their ranks amid reports that 14 MLAs opposed the first draft of the policing and justice deal put forward by Peter Robinson.

On Thursday afternoon, Sinn Fein had announced the negotiations were over and the basis for an agreement existed.

The deal on policing, justice and parades concludes two weeks of marathon talks at Hillsborough Castle, the longest continuous negotiations of the peace process since the mid-1990s.

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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