the document produced was the document of the secretary of state and of the interloper, simon coveneyng of the sanctity of strand one and the fact that all of that happened without a whimper from unionist participants in these talks isa unionist participants in these talks is a commentary in itself as to how farsinn fein has is a commentary in itself as to how far sinn fein has succeeded in their political goals. to the very point where now the internal arrangements of this party in the united kingdom are as much a say for the dublin government as they are for the southern government in london. that isa southern government in london. that is a shameful matter which all of those responsible need to reflect upon very seriously as to where it is leading us and will lead us. it is leading us and will lead us. it is quite clear that in all of this, not for the first time, it was the situation of unionism giving and sinn fein taking. what did sinn fein give in these negotiations? nothing! nothing that i can say. what did they dup gain? nothing. nothing on abortion, nothing on movement towar

ireland's deputy prime minister simon coveney has been at the forefront of those negotiates with theeland's place within europe and its interests in a post—brexit world. given this deal on the table has been passed through the uk's parliament, that has all but been moved to one side. the other issue ireland has been focusing on is stormont and getting the institutions in northern ireland back up and running in northern ireland. ireland has an interest in that. it is obliged to oversee that power—sharing is back up and running. yesterday the assembly sat for the very first time in three years and ireland and the uk government had worked together to bring this deal to the parties in northern ireland in order to get them back around the table and back into government. now those external factors have been dealt with there might be a sense the government can go to the people, go to an election and try and resolve some of those domestic issues in ireland. the opposition leader you referred to, michael martin, people might remember he was a finance minister before, do you get a sense that i

thursday that the northern ireland secretary, julian smith, and the deputy prime minister of ireland, simon coveneynt of the stormont parliament buildings on thursday night. so, yesterday we saw those dramatic developments as the dup said, yes, they would sign up to it. arlene foster, the leader of the dup called itafairand foster, the leader of the dup called it a fair and balanced deal. then we saw sinn fein come out yesterday evening saying, yes, while they did not think it was perfect, there was enoughin not think it was perfect, there was enough in it, particularly on that issue of irish language. that was one of their red lines on the fact that irish language will get an official and legal standing in northern ireland, was enough for them. so, the result of that is today at one o‘clock the assembly will be recalled. the speaker will be sworn in at one o‘clock and that will be followed by the first minister, we assume it will be arlene foster of the dup. deputy first minister, possibly michelle o‘neill from sinn fein, but we will have to see exactly who they nominate. then there is a very sens

the secretary of state for northern ireland, julian smith, alongside irish deputy prime minister simon coveneythis evening. the parties and the government have worked for many months to find a spirit of agreement in collaboration and in compromise, and i believe that there is something in this new dealfor that there is something in this new deal for everyone, that there is something in this new dealfor everyone, and that there is something in this new deal for everyone, and i that there is something in this new dealfor everyone, and i hope that they're able to support it. not all they're able to support it. not all the documents are agreed by all the parties. some are commitments by each government. but i believe we have a deal that all parties in northern ireland can support. we need to move on. new decade, new approach is a fair and balanced, inclusive deal. my message to the public is very direct: tell your politicians to take this opportunity. demand the better future that this deal livers and we can create a more tolerant, inclusive and generous place here in northern ireland. simon cope

on thursday night the secretary of state injulian smith and irish deputy prime minister simon coveneymake or break deal to the parties and despite the reservations, the main parties have all accepted the deal so what we're going to see later afternoon is a first minister and deputy first minister being nominated the first minister being nominated the first minister likely to be arlene foster from the dup, deputy first minister probably going to be from sinn fein. and then the various other ministers will be given various portfolios depending on the size of the parties. so the prime minister boris johnson has said that this is a great step forward for the people of northern ireland and winnie the feeling here is that people are just breathing a sigh of relief knowing that some kind of normal politics has resumed right across northern ireland today. keith doyle, thank you. let's take a look at some of today's other news. the us government has criticised a british extradition request for an american woman charged in connection with the death of a motorcyclist in northamptonshire in augus

last night, he and the irish foreign minister, simon coveney, made a bold move to break the deadlock.s the journey for northern ireland, from peace to power—sharing, to prosperity to continue. they have made proposals to settle the most contentious issues. there are plans for two commissioners, one would protect and promote the irish language, which is particularly important for nationalists. the other would work on ulster—scots language and culture, which are more associated with british identity. and the rules for stormont‘s cross—community veto system would change, so it can only be used as a last resort. the leader of the largest party has said the deal is good enough for her. it is not a perfect deal, it is certainly not one that was written by the democratic unionist party. but i feel it is a way forward. people want us to have our own government here. sinn fein will also need to agree if devolution is to return. its senior members are meeting to make their decision. well, scenes like this have helped to concentrate political minds over the last few weeks. nhs workers, including

the northern ireland secretary gillian smith and the irish foreign secretary simon coveney a re irishmething to happen here at this spotin for something to happen here at this spot in stormont, politicians can address the media here but there is no sense that is about to happen or movement towards any firm deal although the northern ireland secretary has said if there is no deal by the deadline, no bluffing, there will be a fresh election to there will be a fresh election to the stormont assembly. new site no bluffing, is not really the case there will be a move towards fresh elections as opposed to some sort of extension to this process? the parties seem to be taking seriously that there will be an election if there is no agreement by monday, as we all know in northern ireland when deadlines come, but there is a sense because the deadline is laid down in law that there is a serious threat, we would go to an assembly election. if you look at what happened in the general election last month and that european elections earlier last year, we had a change in the dynamics, the alliance par

last night, he and the irish foreign minister, simon coveney, made a bold move to break the deadlock.nd, from peace to power—sharing, to prosperity to continue. they have made proposals to settle the most contentious issues. there are plans for two commissioners, one would protect and promote the irish language, which is particularly important for nationalists. the other would work on ulster—scots language and culture, which are more associated with british identity. and the rules for stormont‘s cross—community veto system would change, so it can only be used as a last resort. the leader of the largest party has said the deal is good enough for her. it is not a perfect deal, it is certainly not one that was written by the democratic unionist party but i feel it is a way forward. people want us to have our own government here. sinn fein will also need to agree, if devolution is to return. its senior members are meeting to make their decision. well, scenes like this have helped to concentrate political minds over the last few weeks. nhs workers, including nurses, are staging a third day

on thursday the northern ireland secretary, gillian smith, and the irish deputy prime minister, simon coveneymerican woman charged in connection with the death of the teenager, harry dunn, who was killed in a road accident in northamptonshire. anne sacoolas — the wife of an american intelligence officer — returned to the us claiming diplomatic immunity following the crash in august. the home office says the matter is now "a decision for the us authorities" but the dunn family spokesperson told breakfast they are certain ms sacoolas will return to the uk to face justice. the struggling department store debenhams begins to close branches today as part of restructuring plans. 19 shops will shut this month, affecting more than 600 staff. meanwhile, the baby clothes retailer, mothercare, is closing its final stores after it fell into administration in november with a loss of 2,500 jobs. it‘s been a momentous few days following the announcement from the duke and duchess of sussex that they plan to step back as "senior" royals and become financially independent. but so many questions remain unanswer

last night the northern ireland secretary, julian smith, and the irish foreign minister, simon coveneyll at stormont. let's hear a little of what they had to say. not all the documents are agreed by all of the parties, some are commitments by each government. but i believe we have a deal that all parties in northern ireland can support. my message to the public is very direct. tell your politicians to take this opportunity. demand the better future that this deal delivers, and we can create a more tolerant, inclusive and generous place, here in northern ireland. chris, are there any financial incentives, any sweeteners to get this deal over the line? yes, the british government says it is going to provide a package of financial help here, but there is no cold, hard figures promised in the draft deal. the government says that if a power—sharing executive does come back, then they will move rapidly in the coming days, they say, to finalise those figures. the democratic unionist party say that's certainly something they want to look at, the resources that will be available for any new exe