Irish News cartoonist Ian Knox shares his interpretation of the deal between the DUP and the UK government.

You'll find more of Ian's cartoons here

Michelle O'Neill is in line to become the first nationalist first minister of Northern Ireland after Sinn Fein emerged from the most recent Assembly election as the largest party. (Get pub-quiz-ready by studying our election results hub)

Tánaiste Michéál Martin has described it as a “a very big moment” for the vice president of Sinn Fein.

“I would say that it’s a very big moment for Michelle O’Neill, on the cusp of becoming first minister in Northern Ireland, so I wish Michelle the very best and for her and the family. And, indeed, for whoever becomes the deputy first minister, representing the DUP”

He said that one of the downsides of powersharing having been collapsed for two years is that “new young voices” that had been elected have not had a chance “to be heard”.

“Now there’s an opportunity for those voices to be heard, for the people that elected them to hear their new representatives along with those who have been re-elected, and to be heard.

“So, that’s the real significance of the moment, I would argue.

“I think politics in the north is fragmented, politics in the Republic is fragmented, and coalition governments of one form or another will be the future. So, that’s in terms of the politics of it.”

Michéal Martin says he does “not anticipate any difficulties” from the EU in relation to the new deal.

“I think the EU Commission will look at this, I think that’s the whole purpose of the joint committee and, indeed, the various mechanisms that are in the Windsor Framework is to go through issues as they arise, but I do not anticipate any particular difficulties in respect of the EU side.”

'This is a moment in time'

The Tánaiste held meetings with the main parties today in Belfast. Speaking afterwards he said he had listened “very carefully” to unionist concerns in his current role and when he was taoiseach.

He added: “I do sense from talking to political parties that there is a recognition and the realisation that this is a moment in time now when the restoration of the Assembly and Executive must lead to a sustainable restoration, must lead to focus on the issues that matter to the people of Northern Ireland.

“Because the people of Northern Ireland want the political institutions to work for them, the assembly to work for them, the executive to work for them, and there’s a lot of work to be done to, I think, to persuade and convince the people of Northern Ireland that their vote matters, in respect of who they elect to the assembly, and that it can lead to politics working in Northern Ireland.”

SDLP leader Column Eastwood wants the secretary of state to convene a process to look at how the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement can be reformed “to make sure no one party can pull them down again”

Northern Ireland’s new assembly will have a powerful “democratic safeguard” when it comes to EU laws, the Secretary of State has said, in response to a question in the House of Commons.

Chris Heaton-Harris said the UK government intends to make an “important change to section seven of the EU Withdrawal Act 2018”.

He later added: “We’re amending section seven of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 so there is a powerful new democratic safeguard that a new assembly will have at its fingertips on the flow of EU law such as it is.”

Former secretary of state Theresa Villiers

This came in response to Conservative former minister Theresa Villiers and Conservative MP Sir William Cash, who both questioned EU laws’ influence on Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, the ramifications of Brexit continue...

Baroness Arlene Foster has backed the deal her successor Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has secured with the British government, accusing unionist opponents of “the usual stereotypical reaction,” writes our political correspondent John Manley.

She's not happy with Sinn Féin's reaction either, accusing them of “dog whistle politics” after leader Mary Lou McDonald said earlier this week that a united Ireland was “within touching distance”.

Baroness Foster said: “This poking of unionism in the eye will continue over the next while as Sinn Féin try to steady their activists.

“Watch how they declare the historic nature of Michelle O’Neill becoming first minister of the north (they can’t say Northern Ireland as they would go up in flames if they did).

“The reality is off course that she is in a joint office with whoever the DUP put forward as deputy first minister and cannot act without joint agreement on decisions.”

Writing in the Express, the one-time first minister-turned-GB News presenter said the seven tests laid out in the DUP’s 2022 assembly election manifesto were "not sacrosanct but were to help the party make a judgement on any proposed deal.”

Read more here. 

The UK Government has been accused of being spineless, weak-kneed and “Brexit-betraying” by DUP MP, Sammy Wilson.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Wilson (East Antrim) said: “When the Northern Ireland assembly sits, ministers and assembly members will be expected by law to adhere to and implement laws which are made in Brussels, which they had no say over and no ability to amend, and no ability to stop.

“This is a result of this spineless, weak-kneed, Brexit-betraying Government, refusing to take on the EU and its interference in Northern Ireland.”

He added: “Is Northern Ireland going to find it’s got the ability to stay tied to the United Kingdom, or will the Government proceed happily to change laws here regardless of the impact it has on Northern Ireland?”

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris replied: “On the fourth anniversary of leaving the European Union, I can tell him absolutely that this agreed package of measures will not change the freedoms and powers we have secured through Brexit or through the Windsor framework.

“It will not reduce our ability to diverge nor our commitment to do so should it be in the interest of the United Kingdom.”

Read more about their House of Commons exchange here

Whisperings from Sinn Féin about a united Ireland are "unhelpful", says Conservative MP Richard Drax. 

Asked if Northern Ireland will always be part of the UK,  Chris Heaton-Harris replied that he would "have to tread carefully" because as secretary of state he is responsible for deciding whether to call a border poll.

MR Heaton-Harris said he is "comfortable that in my lifetime", Northern Ireland will be "a strong and prosperous part" of the UK.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said former prime minister Boris Johnson had promised a lot to his party, but failed to deliver.

He said: “While Boris Johnson promised us a lot of things he didn’t deliver them.

“Rishi Sunak, I think, has worked with us, the Secretary of State (Chris Heaton-Harris) has worked with us, the team from Downing Street has worked with us, to make these changes. I believe in giving credit where it is due.

“Credit to Rishi Sunak, he brought the Windsor Framework. I know he wasn’t happy when I said ‘I’m sorry, but this doesn’t go far enough’.

“But in fairness to him, he worked with us through the Secretary of State and a team of officials to make and deliver the further changes.

“I think he delivered where others haven’t.”