The position was agreed without dissent following a near three-hour debate in Northern Ireland. It was one of the first substantive acts of business since the assembly was restored earlier this month following the powersharing deal. Its two largest parties are the DUP and Sinn Fein, who oppose the British Prime Minister’s Brexit deal for different reasons. Northern Ireland has been unable to speak without the authority of elected ministers throughout most of the debate over Brexit due to the three-year suspension of the devolved institutions. Ms O’Neill said an EU pledge which would see Northern Ireland regain EU membership in the event of unification was a key factor.

Source: Irish Independent January 20, 2020 17:37 UTC