Deal legislation to be unveiled

A plan was outlined by Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern at St Andrews

Legislation to implement the St Andrews Agreement is due to be unveiled by the Northern Ireland Office.

The legislation is expected to confirm that there will be an election to a new Northern Ireland Assembly on 7 March, rather than a referendum.

It will also implement new rules for electing a first and deputy first minister. Nominations for these posts are due to take place on 24 November.

Members will no longer be expected to vote on a joint ticket.

The law is expected to go before parliament on 21 November.

It is expected the legislation will include a reference to Stormont ministers reporting back to the secretary of state on the devolution of policing and justice after one year.

On Wednesday, it emerged that negotiations between the government, DUP and Sinn Fein were focussing on issues such as the ministerial pledge of office and assembly rules.

Voters will elect a new assembly

The emergency law will also delay any ban on academic selection until March next year and set out a new code of office for devolved ministers.

Meanwhile, Sir Reg Empey said he was angry at the abrupt cancellation of a government briefing on the new legislation.

The Ulster Unionist leader said the governments, Sinn Fein and the DUP, were trying to resolve problems "not properly nailed down" in Scotland.

Under British and Irish government proposals, 26 March has been set as the target date for restoring a fully functional power-sharing executive.

The St Andrews Agreement was published after intensive three-day talks between the parties at St Andrews in Scotland.