A stone to mark Northern Ireland's centenary is to be placed at Stormont under new plans.
It follows a political row in 2021 – the year of the centenary – when Sinn Féin opposed the proposal by unionist parties.
Sinn Féin MLA John O'Dowd blocked the initial request at the Assembly Commission, the body which manages Stormont.
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But he stepped down last year after being appointed Infrastructure Minister and Sinn Féin has been unable to nominate a replacement due to Stormont's collapse.
The commission, chaired by Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey, consists of representatives of the five largest parties.
In a joint statement, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, UUP leader Doug Beattie and TUV leader Jim Allister welcomed the approval.
"We are pleased that, though belatedly, the Northern Ireland Centenary will be marked permanently in the curtilage of Parliament Buildings by a centenary stone," they said.
"It was over two years ago that the Assembly Commission refused a collective request from the leaderships of our parties to erect such a commemorative stone, causing great hurt to the unionist community.
"Earlier this month we renewed our request to the Assembly Commission. This time they have given approval, which is most welcome."
The unionist leaders said the stone, which will be in the shape of a map of Northern Ireland, will be mounted on a Portland stone plinth, on a raised area to the west of Parliament Buildings.
"The stone will be paid for by unionist MLAs and therefore will not cost the public purse," they said.
"Our only regret is that Sinn Féin blocked the proposal when first made, but this time they were unable to do so.
"We will give details in due course of the public unveiling of the stone."
A Sinn Féin spokesperson said it is "bizarre that the three unionist parties are focused on a stone" amid the latest crisis in the power-sharing government.
"Sinn Féin opposed a stone to celebrate partition when this was previously raised at the Assembly Commission," the spokesperson said.
"Sinn Féin currently has no vote on the Assembly Commission.
"It's bizarre that three unionist parties focused on a stone while the Assembly is being blocked from doing business on the real issues which are affecting the lives of all our people, such as restoring the Executive, passing vital legislation such as Dáithí's Law, tackling health waiting lists and supporting workers and families through a cost-of-living crisis."
Since last year the DUP has been blocking Stormont power-sharing in protest against Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol.
A spokesman for the Alliance Party, whose MLA John Blair sits on the Assembly Commission, said: "While we respect everyone has a different view on partition, this stone is a simple historical marker to commemorate a significant event."
An Assembly Commission spokeswoman said: "At its meeting of February 13 2023, the Assembly Commission considered a proposal to site a centenary stone on the west side of Parliament Buildings.
"There was consensus amongst the four Assembly Commission Members who currently hold office to agree to the proposal.
"The Assembly Commission is a statutory body with responsibility for the grounds adjacent to Parliament Buildings.
"Therefore, officials will now be working through the process required to give effect to the decision."
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