DUP gives green light to recall Stormont Assembly tomorrow

THE DUP has given the green light for the recall of the Stormont Assembly, with powersharing due to be restored in the North tomorrow.

The announcement from party leader Jeffrey Donaldson came after two pieces of legislation contained in the British government’s deal to resurrect devolution were fast-tracked through the House of Commons, without the need for a formal vote.

Mr Donaldson said he had written to the outgoing Speaker of the Stormont Assembly, Alex Maskey, to confirm his party was prepared to end its two-year blockade on the institutions.

‘I expect the Assembly will meet on Saturday following the Speaker consulting and making all necessary arrangements,’ he said. ‘It is my intention to meet the leaders of the other executive parties during the course of Friday [today] to finalise arrangements on the key issues that will be tackled by the incoming executive.

‘Following the completion of detailed internal party processes... as well as the government having taken the legislative steps required of it, we are now able to re-establish the Northern Ireland Assembly and... Executive.’

The move comes after the DUP agreed a package of measures with the UK government that Mr Donaldson says has effectively removed the so-called Irish Sea border for goods moving from Great Britain to, and staying in, the North. But some senior DUP figures remain sceptical, with Nigel Dodds and Sammy Wilson voicing opposition during a debate yesterday.

Speaking in Brussels yesterday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the EU would have ‘some questions’ about the deal, but added that there were no suggestions on an initial assessment that it contained any ‘red flags’.

The EU Commission said it would ‘carefully analyse’ the measures.

The reconvened Assembly will appoint its first nationalist First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill.