Northern Ireland’s assembly is set to restart after two years after the DUP agreed to resume power-sharing on Saturday

Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government is to return after more than two years after the DUP officially agreed to re-enter the executive.

Trade union leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said that he has written to the Chairman of Stormont Assembly Alex Maskey, paving the way for it to sit on Saturday.

It came after Westminster approved a new post-Brexit border control deal and a £3 billion deal to settle public sector pay complaints.

And it sets the stage for a historic moment in Northern Ireland, with Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill set to become the first republican First Minister.

It came after Westminster approved a new post-Brexit border control deal and a £3 billion deal to settle public sector pay complaints.

And it sets the stage for a historic moment in Northern Ireland, with Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill becoming the first republican First Minister.

Sir Jeffery said a basis now “exists on which the Northern Ireland Assembly can meet to elect a Speaker and fill the offices of First and Deputy Ministers and Executive Ministers”.

“I expect the assembly to meet on Saturday after the Speaker consults and makes all necessary arrangements,” he added.

‘It is my intention to meet with the leaders of the other executive parties during Friday to finalize arrangements on the key issues that the incoming Executive will address.

“Following the completion of detailed internal party processes with my party leaders, all our elected members and the DUP Peers in the Lords, as well as the Government taking the legislative steps required of it, we are now able to re-establish the Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive.

‘We do so with confidence as we look forward to continuing to work on all the issues that matter to people in Northern Ireland and to using all the new structures to shape the future, confident in the knowledge that much has been achieved.’

It came after Northern Ireland police chief Jon Boutcher downplayed the prospect of road-blocking protests by dissident unionists.

Boutcher commented on social media activity encouraging loyalists to take part in disruptive demonstrations.

The PSNI chief constable gave his assessment of the potential for illegal protest action when he briefed members of his oversight body – the Northern Ireland Policing Board – in Belfast on Thursday.

“I’m aware of some of the social media material that’s coming out,” he said.

‘I would appeal to everyone to behave properly and within the law.’