Draft plan on peace in the North published

Northern Ireland’s political leaders published a draft agreement on outstanding peace process issues only hours after Executive parties failed to reach consensus on the proposals.

The stalled blueprint for dealing with divisive problems around flags, parades, and the legacy of the Troubles was drawn up by former US diplomat Richard Haass, who chaired a six-month, five-party talks process that ended at 5am yesterday morning without a settlement.

Democratic Unionist First Minister Peter Robinson and Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness — who had commissioned the one-time White House special envoy to oversee the negotiations — put the document on the website of their joint office so people could assess the plans for themselves.