DUP deal to restore Northern Ireland government to be published

The UK government is set to publish details of its deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to restore Stormont power sharing later.

It is expected to include legislation which could be fast-tracked through parliament on Thursday.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the plans provided a basis for Stormont's return.

His party has been blocking Northern Ireland's devolved government for nearly two years in protest against post-Brexit trade arrangements between the region and Great Britain.

Unionists argued the checks on goods weakened Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom.

On Wednesday morning, the Loyalist Communities Council said it had met to consider the proposals negotiated between the DUP and the government.

"The LCC will study the command paper to be published by parliament today and will then reconvene to determine their response," it added.

The Northern Ireland secretary said the proposals in the deal would "secure Northern Ireland's place in the UK internal market".

Chris Heaton-Harris is expected to update parliament on the deal, with the government to publish a command paper setting out the proposals.

Meanwhile, the main Stormont parties are expected to meet Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Micheál Martin in Belfast.

Legislation could be passed in parliament on Thursday, leading to a potential Stormont assembly recall on Friday or Saturday.

Mr Heaton-Harris said there were "some significant changes" as a result of the deal.

"When I publish the deal in parliament, everyone will see what it is," he said.

When asked if the plans impact the UK's ability to diverge from EU rules, he said it "hasn't affected divergence in any way, shape or form".

The Northern Ireland secretary added: "I believe all the conditions are now in place for the assembly to return, and I look forward very much to the restoration of the institutions at Stormont as soon as possible."

It was agreed by the UK and EU last year in a bid to address concerns with the previous deal, the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Sir Jeffrey said the new legislation would "remove checks on goods moving within the UK and remaining in Northern Ireland, and end Northern Ireland blindly following EU laws".

He added: "There will be legislation protecting the Acts of Union, which guarantees unfettered access for Northern Ireland business to the rest of the UK."

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Sir Jeffrey said his deal represented "significant change".

He said that for goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, there would "no longer be physical checks or identity checks save where, as is normal anywhere in the UK, there are suspicions of smuggling of criminal activity".

"On customs paperwork again, customs declarations, supplementary declarations will be gone and we believe this represents a significant change."

Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill said it was a "day of optimism".

Sinn Féin is the largest party in Northern Ireland after the last assembly election and will nominate Ms O'Neill for the position of first minister, with the DUP the second largest, entitling it to the role of deputy first minister.

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister accused the DUP of a "tawdry climbdown" in its deal with the government.

"It's quite clear that our place has not been restored in the United Kingdom," he said.