"The politicians have shown leadership on these issues and now they must show leadership on the economy," he said."Now is time to deliver on the economy. We now encourage the Executive to focus energies and talent on the number one priority of the Programme for Government – growing the economy of NI. We need decisive, clear minded and cohesive government focused on winning good, sustainable jobs across Northern Ireland. That is what they have promised. That is what they are paid to do and we as citizens deserve nothing less," he declared.

On the international stage US President Barack Obama has hailed the deal between Sinn Fein and the DUP as "an important step".

The President will meet First Minister, Peter Robinson, and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, in Washington on St Patrick's Day.
Mr McGuinness said: "If we are to succeed as a government, we have to show people at grassroots level that we can work together. The last thing that we want to do, while the eyes of the world are on us, is to fail."

He added: "This might just be the day when the political process in the North came of age."

Foyle MP Mark Durkan said The SDLP welcomed the setting of a date for the devolution of policing and justice powers but wished it could have been sooner.

" As MLAs we can only be members of a true legislative assembly when we are responsible for criminal law. Devolution of Policing and Justice will allow the Assembly and Executive to have a complete suite of powers. And it will help confound so-called dissident republicans whose attacks on the police and wider community are based on the language of the past with their references to 'Crown forces' and 'British police'.
"The SDLP will proof this document carefully, not to pose problems but to pre-empt them. The document talks about inclusion but makes no reference to the exclusion of nationalists from government and the departure from the Good Friday Agreement, which itself was not only 'Made in Ulster' but made in Ireland and voted for in Ulster and voted for in Ireland".

There was a welcome too for the agreement from the Bishop of Derry, Dr.Seamus Hegarty and the Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Right Rev Ken Good who said:"The fact that political agreement has been reached on this difficult issue is to be commended. These past weeks have been frustrating for all of us as we have waited for political leaders to come to come to an accommodation. The fact that this has eventually been reached is to be welcomed".

Bishop Good continued ,"The greatest challenge of political leadership, in any time and in any place, is to act for the common good. We now look to the future as we welcome this significant moment in the politics of our community. We encourage our leaders to expend great energy and to find common purpose in successfully meeting the economic and social challenges that lie ahead.This breakthrough may release a logjam that has held back decision making in other areas of political life. If our politicians will seek accommodation for the common good in other decisions affecting everyday life they will find significant goodwill for their efforts from all sides."

Ulster Unionist Councilloir Mary Hamilton and her husband Ernie, himself a former councillor, said it was very hard to know just exactly what had been agreed as their party had been kept in the dark for the past three weeks. They would be studying the agreement and looking at in particular what had been agreed on the thorny issue of parades.
Meanwhile theThe promise of a new system for overseeing parades in Northern Ireland has been given a "guarded welcome" by the Apprentice Boys of Derry. Governor Jim Brownlee said:"We've always believed that the secret to all this is the locality - local parades and local issues being dealt with by local people..".

The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland and the Royal Black Institution said the parading plan was a "positive step". It set out a timetable for establishing a system to replace the independent Parades Commission which currently determines on contentious marches.

Chief Constable Matt Baggott welcomed the announcement and said" I do believe that devolution is a step to a safer, secure, more peaceful Northern Ireland, and look forward to working with the new Minister and the Department of Justice in due course."