Prime Minister: Restored Stormont prospect offers 'brighter future' for NI

Restored power sharing in Northern Ireland offers the prospect of a "brighter future", Rishi Sunak said.

The Prime Minister told the Commons on Wednesday: "Following constructive dialogue over past months, I welcome the significant steps the DUP have taken to make restoration of the executive possible.

"I also thank the other political parties in Northern Ireland for the patience that they have shown.

"After two years without an executive there is now a prospect of power sharing back up and running, strengthening our Union, giving people the local, accountable Government that they need and offering a brighter future for Northern Ireland."

It comes as the UK Government is due to publish the details of its deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) which sets the stage for the return of the Stormont powersharing institutions.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has already said that the agreement will remove all post-Brexit checks on goods destined for Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

The unionist party has been using a veto power to block Stormont's devolved institutions for almost two years in protest at the post-Brexit arrangements that have created trade barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

However, Sir Jeffrey announced earlier this week that his party was prepared to return to Stormont, dependent on the UK Government implementing the various legislative assurances and other measures it has offered.

This is expected to lead to the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland within days and will see Michelle O'Neill become the region's first ever nationalist first minister.