DUP deal to restore Northern Ireland government to be published

The government is set to publish details of its deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to restore Stormont power-sharing later.

It is expected to include legislation which could be fast-tracked through Parliament on Thursday.

The move follows the DUP endorsing the agreement on Monday, subject to laws proposed in the deal being passed.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has hailed the "significant steps" taken by the DUP to agree the deal.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill has said she is "absolutely up to the task" of becoming first minister in a restored devolved government.

Sinn Féin is the largest party in Northern Ireland after the last assembly election and will nominate Ms O'Neill for the position.

As the DUP is the second largest party, it will be entitled to the role of deputy first minister.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey said the deal provided a basis for Stormont's return.

Opening Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mr Sunak thanked the DUP for its efforts, and said the other parties had shown patience over the past two years.

He said there was now the prospect of getting power-sharing back up and running, "strengthening our union and giving people the local, accountable government they need".

The prime minister added this would offer a "brighter future for Northern Ireland".

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also described it as an "important moment" and that all sides needed to work together to kickstart devolution.

The DUP is investigating after parts of a speech about the deal made by leader Sir Jeffrey on Monday were leaked online.

BBC News NI understands it was leaked by a DUP executive member wearing a wire.

The details were then leaked to loyalist activist Jamie Bryson who posted what Sir Jeffrey said on X.

The DUP has been blocking Northern Ireland's devolved government for nearly two years in protest against post-Brexit trade arrangements between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Unionists argued the checks on goods weakened Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom.

On Tuesday night, Sir Jeffrey briefed DUP councillor, who are not on the party's executive, on the deal.

During that meeting in Lisburn, councillors' phones were taken off them to prevent leaks, BBC News NI understands.

Chris Heaton-Harris is expected to update Parliament on the deal, with the government to publish a command paper setting out the proposals.

The legislation could be passed in Parliament on Thursday, leading to a potential Stormont assembly recall on Friday or Saturday.

Mr Heaton-Harris said there were "some significant changes" as a result of the deal.

"When I publish the deal in Parliament, everyone will see what it is," he said.

When asked if the plans impact the UK's ability to diverge from EU rules, he said it "hasn't affected divergence in any way, shape or form".

The Northern Ireland secretary added: "I believe all the conditions are now in place for the assembly to return, and I look forward very much to the restoration of the institutions at Stormont as soon as possible."

The Northern Ireland secretary said the proposals in the deal would "secure Northern Ireland's place in the UK internal market".

On Wednesday morning, the Loyalist Communities Council said it had met to consider the proposals negotiated between the DUP and the government.

"The LCC will study the command paper to be published by Parliament today and will then reconvene to determine their response," it added.

Meanwhile, the main Stormont parties are meeting Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Micheál Martin in Belfast on Wednesday.

Mr Martin told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme he had not yet seen the legislation linked to the DUP deal which is due to be published later.

But he added the Irish government has "no issue with streamlining and making sure that there's a seamless passage of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland".

Mr Martin was then asked if he was concerned the UK government may have "over-promised" to the DUP on matters that would cause friction with the EU.

"The European Union haven't been a party to the UK government talks, but my sense is that the [European] Commission's main concern is the single market, not necessarily the transfer of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland," he replied.

"My view is that the commission all along has been co-operative and constructive in endeavouring to get a resolution to all of these issues so that people can get about their daily lives in a less constrained way."

After meeting Mr Martin, Sinn Féin's Ms O'Neill said there had been "some hope and optimism" on a return of a Northern Ireland Executive.

Asked about becoming first minister, she said: "It speaks to the change - the very fact that for the first time someone from Sinn Féin, a nationalist, a republican woman from Tyrone, will be first minister - that speaks to the change that's happening."

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Doug Beattie said the first meeting of the new assembly is likely to be on Saturday and the first executive meeting is expected on Monday.

He once again refused to say if his party would accept a ministry in the executive.

The DUP has been involved in talks with the government to change the Windsor Framework deal.

It was agreed by the UK and EU last year in a bid to address concerns with the previous deal, the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Sir Jeffrey said the new legislation would "remove checks on goods moving within the UK and remaining in Northern Ireland, and end Northern Ireland blindly following EU laws".

He added: "There will be legislation protecting the Acts of Union, which guarantees unfettered access for Northern Ireland business to the rest of the UK."

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Sir Jeffrey said his deal represented "significant change".

He said that for goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, there would "no longer be physical checks or identity checks save where, as is normal anywhere in the UK, there are suspicions of smuggling of criminal activity".

"On customs paperwork again, customs declarations, supplementary declarations will be gone and we believe this represents a significant change."

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister accused the DUP of a "tawdry climbdown" in its deal with the government.

"It's quite clear that our place has not been restored in the United Kingdom," he said.