New deal means no routine checks on GB to NI goods

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We finally saw the deal that is set to bring devolved power-sharing government back to Northern Ireland.

It was a keenly-awaited moment, as the detail - all 80 pages of it, in the document dubbed "Safeguarding the Union" - was finally unveiled.

Here's the major points from another big day in Northern Ireland politics:

• The deal which brings an end to the DUP two-year boycott of power sharing will reduce checks and paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland - you can read all about what's in the deal here
• Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the deal is "the right one for Northern Ireland", while DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said it would end the Irish Sea border
• He also said it meets the 'seven tests' used by the party to evaluate any deal - you can take a closer look how the deal measures up to those tests here
• Sir Jeffrey continued to hit back at his critics, including Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister, saying he's "not prepared to be poked and prodded by people who've delivered nothing"

• Parliament is expected to pass two pieces of legislation required by the deal tomorrow, clearing the way for a "likely" sitting of the Northern Ireland Assembly on Saturday
• If that happens, then Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill will be set to become Northern Ireland's first republican first minister - you can read more about that possible moment of history here
• While the deal will release a government financial package, including money to settle public sector pay disputes, it has been confirmed that bus and rail strikes in Northern Ireland will go ahead tomorrow

Getty Images/Charles McQuillanCopyright: Getty Images/Charles McQuillan

The deal is done, the press conference is over and the politicians have left Hillsborough Castle, for another day at least.

But what did we learn in the last hour or so?

• The much talked about £3bn financial package, offered by the government - on condition of a return to Stormont - will be released to support Northern Ireland’s public services, the secretary of state confirmed.
• We also heard more about the new UK “east-west” council that will bring ministers together to identify trading opportunities across the UK, as well as a new trade body, Intertrade UK.
• DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he is pleased with the deal but it's been a hard sell to certain members of his party and he concedes that not every "battle has been won", adding that his party is not split.
• Much has been said about the DUP's absence from Stormont and the effect of no government but, Donaldson said it's been essential to "stand up for his people" and get Northern Ireland "back on course.
• He said party supporters have welcomed the new deal.
• There's been a lot of focus in the press conference on cross-community support from the DUP leader. More than once he says that Northern Ireland only works with the support of unionists and nationalists.
• He finished by issuing a challenge to one of his major critics, Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister: "You publish a document setting out the changes you've secured to the Windsor Framework... when Jim has done that, given a credible response, then I'll consider a discussion."

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At the end of the press conference, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson aimed some pointed remarks at Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister, who has been heavily critical of the DUP's move towards a deal this week.

Just before those comments, Allister told BBC's Evening Extra programme that Donaldson had become a "salesman and an implementer of the protocol".

"Northern Ireland is still under the EU’s customs code which treats GB as a foreign country," he says.

"We’re still required, 'colony-like' to take laws from a foreign jurisdiction," he adds. "There is a great disappointment among thinking unionists."

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Alliance Party MP Stephen Farry told the programme he is being "pragmatic" over the deal, which is getting "a fair bit of spin" and "slapping on the back" today.

"It's a bit like trying to put a square peg in a round hole... but the more you chip away at the edges that can be done," he says.

However he says the DUP's decision to collapse the executive has been a "complete and utter disaster".

"Every single thing that's out there today could have been achieved from a sitting assembly working in partnership with others," he says.

As the press conference comes to a close, Donaldson becomes more and more animated on the subject of his critics. He calls out a specific challenge to one of the most vocal - Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister.

"In recent days and weeks I've been threatened, I've had people putting pressure on my party members, but we have made our decisions, this debate is over.

"Yes, I did share a platform with people and all of us did declare what our objectives were, the difference between me and my critics is simple - I got off the platform and did something to secure my objectives, I worked hard to deliver, my critics got off the platform and did nothing and they achieved nothing."

He adds: "Jim Allister, you publish a document setting out the changes you've secured to the Windsor Framework... the changes to safeguard NI's place in the UK. I've set out what I've delivered. When Jim has done that, given a credible response, then I'll consider a discussion.

"What I'm not prepared to do is be poked and prodded by people who've delivered nothing."

Moments later, the media briefing comes to a close.

Donaldson is then asked about some of the criticism of the deal.

He responds by asking: "How will blocking roads in Northern Ireland deliver change? How will that restore Northern Ireland’s place within the UK?”

He repeats a challenge he has put to his critics throughout the day.

“I can demonstrate very clearly what we have delivered,” he says, insisting that he has brought "real change" that safeguards Northern Ireland’s place within the UK.

"My question to my critics, what change have you achieved? What have you achieved that strengthens Northern Ireland’s place in the UK? “

He ends by saying that some of his critics are "living in a bygone era", and that some of them "don’t want Stormont back".

Journalist Amanda Ferguson asks Sir Jeffrey Donaldson whether he would apologise or if he is sorry about the Stormont stalemate

Sir Jeffrey says Northern Ireland only works when unionists and nationalist can support the way forward – "cross-community consensus" is key.

“I make no apology for standing up for my people, I make no apology for ensuring that principal is adhered to, I make no apology for working for two years to put Northern Ireland back on course again on a basis that both unionists and nationalists can support,” he says.

He says the DUP is up for looking at reform at Stormont but adds: "What we are not up for is the politics of exclusion, excluding unionists from government."

We're not up for a return to majority rule, he says, "it doesn't work for Northern Ireland".

Donaldson is then asked about the dynamics within the DUP, and says that he "doesn’t accept" that his party is split.

"I think that, as with any party, people have concerns, and the good thing about my party is they can raise those concerns, and have done," he says.

He repeats that he has a "mandate" from his party based on an "absolutely decisive" vote, and that he will move forward based on that.

Donaldson says he will ask the people of Northern Ireland to "judge the deal on its merits".

"Already this afternoon, within hours of publication [of the deal], we're being inundated, flooded with messages of support from unionists across Northern Ireland, who are saying: 'Well done - you stood your ground and fought.'

"I think these proposals are more than capable of selling themselves, because people can see the benefit of this for Northern Ireland - not least because they restore our place in the UK and they get Stormont working again."

He adds that what we have achieved "will help us to make Northern Ireland work" and demonstrate to people that being part of the UK "brings real benefits"

Heaton-Harris is asked if the EU has had any response to today’s agreement, and says he has spoken to bloc representatives on a “a range of issues”.

Heaton-Harris says the focus is to ensure Stormont can return and that it is sustainable in the long-term to ensure a prosperous Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom.

Donaldson is asked how he will manage to sell the package to the wider electorate, given there are MPs within his party who are against it.

He says his party has made a “decisive decision” to back the agreement.

Donaldson says: "In relation to the EU, we've already seen the beginning of processes whereby change is being delivered.

"As part of the timeline leading to the restoration of the institutions, we have a statement by the government with the EU, setting out details of legal change that will occur and it ensures Northern Ireland will benefit from trade agreements reached by the government on behalf of all the UK."

He says the deal means some four million product movements will no longer be subject to tariffs, "customs declarations and so on".

These are an enhancement of what was in the Windsor Framework Brexit deal, he adds.

Journalists are now asking questions to the pair and Chris Heaton-Harris answers the first question about the European Union's input into this agreement.

The Northern Ireland secretary says he is proud of what the government did with the Windsor Framework and that it started a process.

"Obviously it wasn't enough to bring the DUP back into government", he says but adds that the deal is now about safeguarding NI's place in the union.

He says the UK government is committed to all changes announced and that NI would be able to benefit from free trade deals conducted by the UK.

Donaldson adds that his party has looked at the agreement in detail, and that he has been given a “decisive mandate” by his party executive to proceed with the deal.

He says he recognises there are some with concerns about the deal, but that the DUP has measured the proposals against the party’s “seven tests” and it is happy with them.

Donaldson adds that the DUP will continue to work with Stormont, as well as with Westminster on the issue.

“I’m proud of what the DUP has achieved,” he says.

Donaldson says the agreement will ensure Northern Ireland's place in the UK's internal market, giving Northern Irish businesses "unfettered access" to the rest of the UK.

He concedes that not every "battle has been won" or "finished" but says he is banking the "progress" made and will continue making the case for "further change".

He says he and his colleagues will work towards a "confident unionism, a forward-looking unionism" for a "thriving... prosperous... peaceful and stable Northern Ireland, firmly within the UK".

BBCCopyright: BBC

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is up now and he says the agreement is his party's achievement "after two years of hard work and negotiations", and will ensure "real change and progress" for everyone in Northern Ireland.

He welcomes it as a "positive and decisive step forward" on all the issues the DUP has been pressing.

Heaton-Harris says the deal means there will be a new UK “East-West” council that will bring ministers together to identify trading opportunities across the UK, as well as a new public body, Intertrade UK, to facilitate trade.

He adds that a financial package offered in December will see £3bn in funding released to support Northern Ireland’s public services.

The Northern Ireland secretary adds that today’s announcement is the result of a “significant period” of negotiation between the DUP and the UK government, but he also goes onto thank the other political parties in Northern Ireland to ensure a deal can be reached.

NI Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris is first to speak.

He says he's just returned from the House of Commons where a Command Paper on the deal was published.

"I am clear that the long-term interests of the union are served by persuading those who might not vote for unionist parties, or think themselves as unionist, that Northern Ireland within the UK ensures the best future for them and their children," he says.

"A thriving Northern Ireland underpinned by democratically accountable and locally elected leaders is the surest way to safeguard this precious union and I look forward to continuing to work with those who support our union to advance this cause."

“On Monday night Sir Jeffrey set out his party's willingness to restore the assembly and Executive, depending on the government's delivery on our commitments” he says.

“The government will deliver on this, and do so quickly,” he adds.

“Tomorrow in the House of Commons we will introduce two core pieces of legislation within this deal - that legislation will affirm Northern Ireland's constitutional status and future-proof Northern Ireland's position within the UK internal market against any protocol that would create a new EU law alignment for Northern Ireland.

"It will also strengthen the UK internal market by guaranteeing, in law, unfettered access for Northern Ireland goods to the whole of the UK internal market.

"The deal we have reached will ensure that internal trade in the UK takes place under a new UK internal market system," he adds.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris and DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson are beginning their press conference at Hillsborough Castle in County Down.

We'll bring you written updates and you can watch the briefing live by clicking Play at the top of this page.