The SDLP and Alliance have welcomed a power-sharing agreement on Belfast City Council which will allow Sinn Fein to take up important council positions. The decision could see Sinn Fein councillors take up chairs of six principal committees in the council in June.
The council voted on Monday night to support an Alliance proposal to introduce a system of proportionality for senior committee posts. The SDLP and Sinn Fein voted for the motion, which was opposed by the DUP, Ulster Unionists and PUP. Alliance councillor Mr Tom Campbell said: "We pioneered this scheme as we felt it important to ensure fairness and equality in the manner in which senior posts are allocated at committee level."
However, DUP councillor Mr Nigel Dodds condemned the decision. "Sinn Fein went to the High Court over getting chair positions on standing committees and failed. Now the SDLP and Alliance have handed it to them on a plate."