Tue 04 Apr 2007Progress in North continues as parties agree
ministriesThe pace of political developments in Northern Ireland continued
to quicken yesterday with the four main party leaders signing up to
a "gentlemen's agreement" by announcing the ministerial posts they
will take up on May 8th.Yesterday's allocation of departments has no legal standing but
the DUP and Sinn Féin, which will hold seven of the 10
ministerial posts in addition to the posts of first minister and
deputy first minister as well as a junior ministry each, appeared
satisfied that on May 8th each party would hold to the
agreement.