The DUP's post-Brexit Northern Ireland deal explained: what does it mean?

Sir Geoffrey Donaldson entered into negotiations with the government that ended the boycott

Sir Geoffrey Donaldson announced that the DUP would end its two-year boycott Stormont over post-Brexit trade deals.

What did Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, offer to the DUP leader to persuade him to return to power-sharing, and what does this mean for Northern Ireland and the UK as a whole?

Here's everything you need to know about the Irish Sea border, Brexit, the scandal that has paralyzed Northern Ireland and what happens next.

What happened?

< p>The DUP has overcome internal divisions and backed the UK government's Irish Sea border proposal.

This should end the DUP's boycott of the Northern Ireland Assembly, which has lasted almost two years. and return devolved government to the region.

What is the border with the Irish Sea?

The land border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic became invisible as border infrastructure was removed after the Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago.

Brexit risked a return to checks as the UK left the EU and Ireland remained a member state. The DUP campaigned to leave the EU, but the majority of people in Northern Ireland voted to remain.

The UK and EU agreed to avoid a hard land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit to prevent Troubles tensions from escalating.

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Northern Ireland continued to follow hundreds of Brussels rules — and was subject to the European Court of Justice on some issues — under an agreement that gives it unique dual access to the UK and EU markets.

Northern Ireland The Irish Protocol introduced Irish Sea checks on British goods and animals entering the region to ensure they meet EU standards when they cross the border into the Republic. It came into force on January 1, 2021.

Sounds controversial…

So it was. The government has threatened to tear up the Protocol because it harms trade with Northern Ireland. The threat has brought the UK and EU to the brink of a trade war, which is centered on whether British sausages can still be shipped to the region.

In February 2022, the DUP abandoned power-sharing at Stormont in protest at post-Brexit trade deals, which it argued threatened Northern Ireland's place in the UK.

In February 2023, Rishi Sunak agreed Windsor framework with the EU, which reduced checks and introduced a less restrictive «green lane» for goods that were required to remain in Northern Ireland.

However, the Windsor Framework was not good enough. for DUP. Its leader, Sir Geoffrey Donaldson, has entered into talks with the government to end the boycott of Stormont, an announcement was made on Tuesday morning.

What is included in the deal?

Full information has not yet been disclosed. However, it does include a £3.3 billion financial package for Stormont and Westminster legislation to guarantee Northern Ireland's place in the UK. It also includes a new East-West council to strengthen trade links within the UK.

The Telegraph reported that the government has proposed renaming the Green Lane the UK Internal Market Lane and testing any new laws to ensure they did not create barriers to trade.

The government insists it will not harm its ability to deviate from EU rules after Brexiteers raised concerns the review obligation would sacrifice hard-won freedoms post-Brexit.

The government also promised to discuss further reduction of border checks with the EU in the future. But, perhaps crucially, the Irish Sea border remains in place, as do its restrictions, and the deal is not a renegotiation of the Windsor Framework with Brussels.

What does the EU have to say about all this?

The European Commission said it was not involved in the negotiations but was pleased that decentralized government could be restored. He added that he expected the UK to support the Windsor Framework Agreement.

How was the DUP able to boycott Stormont?

Most Northern Ireland party politicians support the Irish Sea border, but that has not stopped the pro-Brexit DUP from mothballing Stormont.

The Northern Ireland Assembly, the cornerstone of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, operates on a binding basis. a power-sharing coalition between the largest unionist party and the largest nationalist party.

The DUP lost its status as the dominant party in the region. The political force joined Sinn Féin for the first time in the May 2022 Assembly elections, but remained the largest unionist party and had the right to form half of the coalition.

New Assembly elections would fail to break the deadlock as polls suggested the DUP would remain the largest unionist party, not least because many of its voters support its hardline stance on the Irish Sea border.

Sinn Féin understand. to see a deal for the DUP, but other political parties have not yet seen it, leading to accusations of division between the major unionist and nationalist parties.

Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn Féin president (left), and Michelle O'Neill said of the deal that «Stormont cannot be fooled» . Photo: Sky News

Has the lack of a devolved government in Northern Ireland hurt?

It has certainly prevented action being taken on NHS waiting lists, the longest in the UK, and the cost of the life crisis in the poorest region of the UK.

In January, Northern Ireland experienced its biggest public sector strike in 50 years, with up to 170,000 workers breaking tools that could have been avoided if the Assembly had been in session. The financial package includes money to settle wage claims.

The boycott has also undermined confidence in politicians, who are regularly accused of taking salaries without doing any work.

Westminster has imposed painful budget cuts on Northern Ireland in the absence of a devolved government.

The prolonged impasse has coincided with intensifying debate over a referendum on Irish reunification, an issue that has received new impetus as a result of Brexit.

< p>< strong>What happens next?

The DUP's support is conditional on the government delivering its promised legislation, which is expected soon.

The deal is due to be published on Wednesday, and the legislation will be passed in Westminster on Thursday.

The Northern Ireland Assembly could convene on Friday or Saturday to elect a new Speaker.

The next step will be the appointment of a First Minister and a Deputy First Minister. Both roles carry equal weight but different titles, and neither can act without the support of the other.

Sinn Féin has the power to appoint a First Minister for the first time in the history of Northern Ireland, and this will be Michelle O' Neil.

The DUP will appoint a deputy first minister but has not said who it will be. Sir Geoffrey remained a Westminster MP while the boycott continued, although he won a seat in the Assembly elections, so his ally Emma Little-Pendelly could have replaced him.

Ministers for the other nine Stormont departments are shared between political parties in Northern Ireland using the Hondt mechanism.

Sir Geoffrey Donaldson speaks to the media following news of a possible deal to restore the government. Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty

What is the government saying?

Rishi Sunak told the cabinet it was a positive step. Chris Heaton-Harris, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said it would protect the region's place in the Union and improve its public services and finances.

Is Brexit finally over in Northern Ireland? /p>