Reaction:Significant preparatory work, involving meetings between the Democratic Unionist Party's Dr Ian Paisley and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness, will have to take place between now and May 8th, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said.
Welcoming yesterday's Stormont developments as "hugely significant", Mr Ahern said there is "a lot of work" for them to do in advance so that the executive can "hit the ground running".
"I expect that they will start within a few days. From there on in there will be regular contact. That is part of the understanding," said Mr Ahern during a press conference in Dublin.
"The message is loud and clear that Northern Ireland has moved on, that anyone with a sense of the history of the troubles of this island will understand the meaning of this.
The agreement between the DUP and Sinn Féin was "a great day for democracy", Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said at Stormont last night.
Speaking prior to a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain, the Minister said: "The Irish Government are delighted with the turn of events". He particularly thanked Mr Hain "for all of the work that he has done".
"I know there will be a couple of rocky weeks ahead and we're under no illusion that there is more work to be done, but it is a credit to the parties," he added. "It is not easy for them and we accept that."
Mr Hain said he had spoken "very recently" to his cabinet colleague, chancellor Gordon Brown, on financial aid for the incoming executive: "He is very willing to meet the parties to see what remaining obstacles there are on the financial package and see if any gaps can be closed."
Earlier, the Tánaiste Michael McDowell welcomed the agreement but said it should have been achieved eight years ago.
He said a lot of the issues could have been dealt with a long time ago. "I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, I just want to say we've been a long time waiting for this and a lot of things have happened during those eight years . and they didn't have to happen," he said.
The leaders of the four main churches in Ireland also welcomed yesterday's meeting between Sinn Féin and the DUP.
A statement issued by Catholic Archbishop Seán Brady, Church of Ireland primate Alan Harper, Presbyterian Moderator Rt Rev Dr David Clarke, and Methodist president Rev Ivan McElhinney, said the meeting represented "an important and welcome development in the search for a stable future for Northern Ireland".
"Along with many others, our churches have long encouraged local politicians to work towards a devolved government for Northern Ireland and we trust that this is now to be realised," they said.
