TÁNAISTE AND Fianna Fáil leader- elect Brian Cowen and the likely next leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Peter Robinson, are due to hold their first meeting in Belfast on Monday, it was confirmed yesterday.
Mr Cowen will meet Mr Robinson on a day when the DUP parliamentary party is due to confirm the now deputy leader as leader and first minister in designate form.
The DUP will also elect a new deputy leader on Monday. No candidates have declared for the post but it is virtually certain Mr Robinson will seek the top post while the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Industry, Nigel Dodds, will stand for deputy leader.
It is expected that both will be elected, although there could be a rival to Mr Dodds for the deputy leader post. It will be then up to the DUP executive to confirm these elections on Thursday next, which is seen as a formality.
Mr Robinson and Mr Dodds, if elected deputy, will hold designate positions until Ian Paisley resigns. Dr Paisley is to resign as First Minister and DUP leader after the US-Northern Ireland investment conference from May 7th to 9th.
Dr Paisley, on what is seen as his "lap of honour" as First Minister and DUP leader, travelled to Washington on Monday for meetings relating to the conference.
Dr Paisley said: "I never cease to be amazed by the amount of goodwill which Northern Ireland receives in the United States and this trip has been no different. I was particularly pleased to meet the mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg who confirmed that he would send a business delegation to Belfast," he said.