On Tuesday Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Northern Ireland's two major parties, political rivals and colleagues in the Northern Ireland Executive, announced that they had reached an agreement on two of the most controversial aspects of devolution: the transfer of policing and justice powers from London to Belfast.

Meetings of the Executive, suspended for five months, will now resume. The first meeting will be held on November 20, although a full timetable is yet to be set. The first step will be to make preparations for the creation of the new Department of Justice and the nomination of a Justice Minister. It remains to be seen whether the post will be given to a member of the DUP or of Sinn Féin, or whether the ministry will be offered to the Alliance party, currently in opposition, as a compromise.

Further information:

• The Irish Times: DUP, Sinn Féin reach deal on devolution of powers
• Belfasttelegraph.co.uk: Policing powers to be devolved to Stormont
• guardian.co.uk: Northern Ireland parties reach devolution agreement
• Nationalia:Ongoing rows in Northern Ireland Executive over devolution