Northern Ireland: what does the new post-Brexit deal mean?

The Democratic Unionist party argue that the Irish Sea border has undermined Northern Ireland’s position in the UK. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters

What is the deal about?

The government has established new rules to smooth post-Brexit trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This is to assuage Democratic Unionist party concerns that the Irish Sea border has undermined the region’s position in the UK. In return for these concessions the DUP has agreed to restore power sharing after a two-year boycott that has paralysed the Stormont assembly and executive.