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Summary

  • The British and Irish governments have published the text of a draft deal aimed at restoring power sharing.

  • The Northern Ireland secretary has asked the assembly speaker to convene a sitting on Friday.

  • The DUP said the deal is "a basis upon which the assembly can be re-established" while Sinn Féin's executive will meet to consider it.

Live Reporting

Luke Sproule, Amy Stewart and Ali Gordon

  1. Reflecting on Thursday's 'dramatic' statement

    Gareth Gordon
    ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ News NI Political Correspondent

    You can say what you like about Julian Smith but he knows how to put on a show.

    The way it was unveiled was entirely deliberate.

    They could have done this in Stormont House but they wanted to do it on the hill with floodlit Parliament Buildings in the background - symbolically - as the prize.

    They came out of the dark towards us and it couldn’t have been more dramatic – all that was missing was the drum roll and music.

    JULIAN SMITH AND COVENEYPA

    Mr Smith and Mr Coveney were to the point – they’re putting it up to the parties and lighting the fuse.

    He couldn’t be upping the ante more.

    In a way it reminds me of the Good Friday Agreement – with a take it or leave it deadline.

    When I asked if he was giving the parties enough time he said they had three years and nine month of negotiations.

  2. 'All communities should welcome these priorities'

    The Police Federation for NI welcomes the deal.

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  3. Alliance has questions

    Speaking on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's Good Morning Ulster, Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong questioned whether the reforms of the petition of concern detailed in the draft deal go far enough.

    Kellie armstrongPA Media

    She says the text has changed from what had previously been agreed by Alliance, UUP, SDLP and Sinn Féin.

  4. 'No money without a deal'

    Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith has told ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ News NI there will be no extra money to resolve the health service pay dispute unless there is a deal.

    Nurses are on strike again today in a row over pay and staffing levels.

    Julian SmithPA Media

    Julian Smith delivered a warning on health funding

    Mr Smith said: "There is no money coming unless the executive gets up and running.

    "I want to focus on public services, they [politicians] need to get back to work so teachers, nurses can get back to work."

  5. The key points from the draft deal

    Want to know what the draft deal contains?

    We have picked out some of the key points from the 62-page document, including on health, education, the petition of concern and language.

    StormontReuters

    The deal is called New Decade, New Approach.

  6. SDLP to meet Julian Smith

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  7. End of the line for corporation tax cut?

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  8. 'Tough talking'

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  9. Health strike goes ahead

    Thousands of healthcare workers across Northern Ireland are going ahead with strike action on Friday, despite the draft deal.

    Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith said if political parties accepted the deal, it would immediately end the industrial action.

    Nurses on strikePacemaker

    Nurses are beginning a further day of strike action across Northern Ireland

    But the Royal College of Nursing said the strike would proceed as planned.

    It added: "At this stage, the executive has not been reformed and the industrial dispute remains unresolved."

    Read more here.

  10. 'Moment of truth'

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  11. Leaders' discussion

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  12. All change for farmers?

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  13. Want to read the full text of the draft agreement?

    Of course you do.

    The deal is entitled "New Decade, New Approach".

    The government says it "will transform public services and restore public confidence in devolved government."

    front page of draft dealgov.uk

    Agreement would see the full restoration of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement including the executive, the assembly and the North/South Ministerial Council.

    Have a

  14. How will Irish language campaigners react?

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  15. Hot off the press

    A look at one of this morning's front pages - the News Letter says Arlene Foster "backs deal with new Irish language law".

    It quotes the DUP leader saying that while the deal is not perfect it represented "compromise outcomes".

    News Letter front pageNews Letter

    Political editor Sam McBride adds that the deal "will involve a significant shift in how assembly business is conducted".

  16. Working towards a 'zero carbon society'

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  17. Sinn Féin to chew over deal at lunch

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  18. 'Careful consideration' from Sinn Féin

    Sinn Féin president Mary-Lou McDonald said the party would "assess" the text.

    Ms McDonald said Sinn Féin would give the text "careful consideration".

    MARY LOUPAUL FAITH/AFP

    "We are studying the text and will give it careful consideration.

    "The Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle will meet tomorrow [Friday] to fully assess it."

  19. An Irish language compromise?

    On Tuesday the Orange Order reiterated its opposition to a standalone Irish language act.

    Questioned on this, Mrs Foster said the parts of the deal relating to language and culture were "an entirely different construct to what was suggested before".

    An Orange Order parade

    The Orange Order is opposed to a standalone Irish language act

    She added: "In that construct, yes there is Irish language legislation, I am not going to deny that, but there is always a balance there.

    "The balance is recognising that there are people in Northern Ireland who are British citizens, who want to recognise our culture and heritage as well".

  20. 'A way forward'

    Speaking to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's Good Morning Ulster programme just now, DUP leader Arlene Foster said the deal was a "fair and balanced basis to move forward".

    She said: "We had a very full and open discussion yesterday with our party's elected representatives and our party officers and we came to the decision that this is a fair and balanced deal.

    "There was a clear recognition of that with the group of people who met."

    Arlene Foster at StormontPA

    Arlene Foster at Stormont