Policing deal done

The announcement will end months of wrangling between the DUP and Sinn Fin on the issue, and sees the end of almost two weeks of intensive negotiations at Stormont.

DUP leader Peter Robinson said just before midnight (Thursday, February 4, 2009) that the deal had been unanimously backed amongst his party's 35 Assembly bloc.

A roundtable discussion on the deal began at the Assembly at 8.30am this morning. However, the UUP said it will not be attending as it was not party to the deal negotiations and will take time to consider what was contained in the deal.

Commentators are pointing to the fact that it took 130 hours of negotiating to secure the deal and see that as an indication of the fragile nature of the political process in Northern Ireland.

The deal is beloved to include new arrangements on the scruntiny of loyal order parades which had been a major sticking point between the DUP and Sinn Fin.