North politicians to make historic appearance in Dáil Committee

Politicians from the North will be allowed for the first time to take part in the workings of the Dáil today.

Westminster MPs from the North have been invited to take part in a new committee of the Dáil parliament set up to help implement the Good Friday Agreement.

While unionists are not expected to accept seats on the committee, nationalists have welcomed it as a further step in developing all-Ireland relations.

Its inaugural meeting will be held in Leinster House, Dublin.

Representatives to the committee will include the SDLP's south Belfast MP Alastair McDonnell, south Down MP Eddie McGrady, Sinn Féin's Fermanagh/south Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew and Pat Doherty, MP for west Tyrone.

They can take part in debates on the 1998 peace pact signed by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, but will not have a right to vote or to move motions and amendments.

When established last month, it was heavily criticised by Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) as being unnecessary.

Today's meeting is expected to see the election of the committee's chairman and deputy chairman.