He said the agreement between the DUP and Sinn Fein to share power marked an important day "for the people and the history of these islands".

Speaking in Westminster, he said: "In a sense everything we have done over the last ten years has been in preparation for this moment because the people of Northern Ireland has spoken through the election.

"They have said we want peace and powersharing and the political leadership has then come in behind that and said 'we will deliver what the people want'."

He added: "This won't stop republicans or nationalists being any less republican or nationalist or making unionists any less fiercely unionist.

"What it does mean is people can come together, respecting each other's point of view and share power and make sure politics is only expressed through peaceful and democratic means.

"And in that it will give the people of Northern Ireland the future they want and give heart to all of us who have wanted this process over the past few years.

"Now at last we have a date certain for the devolution of power and a remarkable coming together of people who have, for very obvious reasons, been strongly opposed in the past."