Executive to meet for first time since June

The North's Executive will meet today for the first time since June after the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin agreed an end to their stand-off.

An economic aid package is expected to top the agenda at today’s meeting after a delegation yesterday met British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to appeal for financial support.

First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness described the talks with Mr Brown as positive and are to brief their ministerial colleagues today.

The two parties have brokered a deal on the devolution of policing and justice powers from Westminster which should see the appointment of a Justice Minister at Stormont next year.

The parties want financial backing for the creation of a new Department of Justice, but they said yesterday’s discussions centred on financial pressure over civil service back pay, deferring water charges and other strains on the Stormont budget.

A huge backlog of cabinet business has built up during the dispute between the parties, but the DUP and Sinn Féin have agreed to hold an Executive meeting every week until the work has been cleared.

During the dispute republicans had claimed unionists were blocking policies of importance to them, while the DUP claimed their voters were not yet ready to see Stormont take on responsibility for justice.

Now Sinn Féin has said it is satisfied the power-sharing government will operate on a partnership basis, while plans to build community confidence in devolution form part of the new deal.

The parties are to continue talks on outstanding issues such as the redevelopment of the Maze prison site, the introduction of an Irish language act and education reform.