Details of agreement with DUP will be made public, insists PM

THE PRIME Minister has confirmed she will publish the details of any deal that is reached between her party and the DUP, as she insisted talks will not be allowed to undermine the Good Friday Agreement.

Speaking after a meeting with the new Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Theresa May stated that any arrangement with the Northern Irish party would be “made public” so that “people can see exactly what that is based on”.

Her assurances follow reports that the DUP has issued a number of demands – including a commitment to maintaining the pensions triple lock – in return for lending its support to Mrs May’s minority government.

It also follows a series of warnings that a deal could put the Northern Irish peace process at risk by undermining the UK government’s neutrality.

Speaking in Downing Street alongside Mr Varadkar, Mrs May dismissed these concerns as she claimed her government “remains absolutely steadfast” in its commitment to upholding the Good Friday Agreement. She also expressed confidence that negotiations to restore a power-sharing executive in Stormont will be successful and institutions will be up and running again by the deadline of June 29.

Asked when the proposed confidence and supply arrangement the DUP will be signed off, she said discussions with the party were ongoing. But she added: “On reaching such an agreement we will make sure that the details of that are made public so that people can see exactly what that is based on.”

Mr Varadkar said he was reassured by the commitment to transparency and ensuring the deal does “not in any way impact on the Good Friday Agreement”.