Stormont: Assembly to sit on Saturday as DUP boycott ends
The Northern Ireland Assembly is set to convene on Saturday after the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) ended its boycott of the power-sharing institutions.
DUP ends boycott of power-sharing institutions
The DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson wrote a letter to the Speaker, announcing the party's decision to end the boycott after the passage of legislation in the House of Commons.
The legislation ensures no routine checks on British goods sold in Northern Ireland.
Saturday marks the two-year anniversary since the DUP collapsed the executive in protest over Brexit trade arrangements.
Satuday sitting to re-establish Stormont
Speaker Alex Maskey has summoned all assembly members to a sitting on Saturday at 13:00 GMT.
Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris expressed his delight at the DUP's decision and looks forward to working with the new first minister and deputy first minister to improve the lives of people in Northern Ireland.
The DUP's executive endorsed a deal to return to Stormont pending the passage of legislation at Westminster.
Lively debate in House of Commons
During the House of Commons debate, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the Northern Ireland Protocol undermined the principle of consent and that the new measures and legislation reset the balance to ensure the will of the people determines the future of the country as part of the UK.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood praised Sir Jeffrey's work while expressing the SDLP's opposition to the deal, as they believed it undermined north-south co-operation.
Steve Baker, the minister of state for Northern Ireland, encouraged Northern Ireland politicians to grasp the opportunity and make the region prosperous and reconciled.
