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<\/picture><\/span>Reuters<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThe UK government is set to publish details of its deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to restore Stormont power sharing later.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n It is expected to include legislation which could be fast-tracked through parliament on Thursday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The move follows the DUP endorsing the agreement on Monday, subject to laws proposed in the deal being passed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the plans provided a basis for Stormont’s return.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Unionists argued the checks on goods weakened Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/span><\/span>Reuters<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n On Wednesday morning, the Loyalist Communities Council said it had met to consider the proposals negotiated between the DUP and the government.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “The LCC will study the command paper to be published by parliament today and will then reconvene to determine their response,” it added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Northern Ireland secretary said the proposals in the deal would “secure Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Chris Heaton-Harris is expected to update parliament on the deal, with the government to publish a command paper setting out the proposals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Meanwhile, the main Stormont parties are expected to meet T\u00e1naiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Miche\u00e1l Martin in Belfast on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mr Martin told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme he had not yet seen the legislation linked to the DUP deal which is due to be published later.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n But he added the Irish government has “no issue with streamlining and making sure that there’s a seamless passage of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mr Martin was then asked if he was concerned the UK government may have “over-promised” to the DUP on matters that would cause friction with the EU.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “The European Union haven’t been a party to the UK government talks, but my sense is that the [European] Commission’s main concern is the single market, not necessarily the transfer of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland,” he replied.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “My view is that the commission all along has been co-operative and constructive in endeavouring to get a resolution to all of these issues so that people can get about their daily lives in a less constrained way.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The legislation could be passed in parliament on Thursday, leading to a potential Stormont assembly recall on Friday or Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mr Heaton-Harris said there were “some significant changes” as a result of the deal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “When I publish the deal in parliament, everyone will see what it is,” he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 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”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 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.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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‘Significant changes’ <\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n