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8 months ago
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Image source, HANNAH MCKAY/REUTERS
This marks Prime Minister’s 7th visit to Northern Ireland since taking office in 2022
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has arrived in Northern Ireland for a visit to mark the return of power-sharing government.
He is due to attend Stormont on Monday to meet ministers, including First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
Mr Sunak will also make a number of community engagements.
Ms O'Neill made history in becoming Northern Ireland's first nationalist first minister.
It is the first time devolved government in Northern Ireland is fully functioning since Mr Sunak became prime minister in October 2022.
Downing Street said Mr Sunak is expected to meet emergency responders and community figures in an engagement on Sunday night.
His community engagements on Monday will involve speaking to a "broad range of people from across Northern Ireland including those delivering public services, those supported by them, and their families".
Downing Street added that he will "convene political leaders and ministers of the restored Northern Ireland Executive to discuss their immediate plans for delivery".
It is the prime minister's seventh visit to Northern Ireland since taking office.
Mission accomplished - with power sharing back in action, even the prime minister is in town to mark the occasion.
Given the government's long-running efforts to get a deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) over the line, Rishi Sunak has reasons to be cheerful.
But while he will pose for pictures with the parties tomorrow, they will be keen to pose questions to him about Stormont's future finances.
There's already a multi-billion pound package about to be handed over - but is the prime minister prepared to part with any more cash to keep the parties happy?
That's the big question waiting for him on the hill.
Northern Ireland's power-sharing government returned on Saturday after the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) ended its boycott over post-Brexit trade rules.
The DUP agreed to re-enter the institutions after a deal was struck with Mr Sunak's government, which included the passing of new legislation at Westminster.
Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly met on Saturday to elect a new Speaker and appoint new ministers.
Mr Sunak has often said that getting Stormont up and running was a key priority for his government.
His government renegotiated the Northern Ireland Protocol to the Windsor Framework in 2023, but it was not enough to persuade the DUP to return to Stormont.
Speaking at Westminster last week, Mr Sunak thanked the DUP for the "significant steps" taken in talks towards the return of devolved government.
He also thanked the other Northern Ireland parties for the "patience that they have shown after two years without an executive".
