Northern Ireland marked a historic moment in its 15-year search for political settlement last night, when politicians voted to transfer policing and justice powers to Belfast.
Both unionists and nationalists voted to endorse the devolution deal, agreed at emergency talks to save the power-sharing agreement, which took place at Hillsborough Castle last month.
The new justice minister - the first since the Troubles began - will be appointed on 12 April. It is likely to be David Ford, leader of the centrist Alliance party.
Sinn Fein, the unionist Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and the nationalist SDLP all voted in favour of the deal. However, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), which recently formed an alliance with the Conservatives, refused to endorse it.
This has turned the spotlight back on to a continuing political row over the Tory involvement with the party. While David Cameron has backed the policing and justice deal, he was unable to persuade the UUP to vote in favour of the deal. It was the only party not to give its support.
Gordon Brown praised the deal, saying: "Today the politics of progress have finally replaced the politics of division in Northern Ireland. The completion of devolution, supported by all sections of the community in Northern Ireland, is the final end to decades of strife."
In what could be read as a pointed comment on Cameron's involvement with the UUP, he said: "The courage and leadership of the parties who voted to complete devolution at Stormont will be noted around the world."
Belfast will receive an extra £800 million for policing and justice, and an extra 1,200 police officers.
