Cowen and Martin welcome resolution of North row

The Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs have welcomed the resolution of the dispute that has caused political stalemate in the North for the past five months.

Sinn Féin and the DUP confirmed today that they had reached a deal on the devolution of policing and justice powers from London to Stormont.

The DUP had been blocking the move, prompting Sinn Féin to prevent meetings of the power-sharing Executive from going ahead.

Reacting to the end of the standoff, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said the successful devolution of policing and justice powers would be the final piece of the jigsaw of the peace process.

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin, meanwhile, said the agreement was an important step for the North in moving away from the difficulties of the past and becoming a fully normalised society.