Democratic Unionist Party

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the deal ‘does provide a basis’ for the DUP’s return. Sinn Féin leader said she’s ’optimistic' the executive will be back by Feb. 8.

Negotiations to bolster Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government opened with recriminations and empty seats Thursday as the 7-year-old alliance of British Protestants and Irish Catholics faced its toughest political test.