On Tuesday the Irish and British governments signed a treaty to establish a body to work towards ending paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire made what was his first official trip to Dublin to sign the agreement alongside Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan. The Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) was agreed as part of last year’s Fresh Start Agreement. It will be set up by the end of 2016 and will report at least once a year until 2021 on paramilitary activity.

The News Letter revealed that the First and deputy First Ministers used a special legal procedure to appoint a new press secretary. The role was created and then filled by former BBC journalist and editor of The Nolan Show, David Gordon without being advertised. Opposition parties expressed concern at the move, but a spokesperson at The Executive Office said the selection of individuals to provide specialist communications advice was “normal practice” across Britain and Ireland and described the reaction from opposition politicians as “panic and hysteria”.

MLAs on Stormont’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) were told the granting of a £9million funding package to prevent United Airlines from ending its daily Belfast-New York air route was “irregular”. The airline, which provides the only regular direct link between Northern Ireland and the US, received a three-year deal in August to save its Newark to Belfast International Airport flight. Most of the package will be funded by the Executive; the airport will make a contribution. At the time Economy Minister Simon Hamilton said the route was crucial to US-inward investment; other MLAs have argued the decision did not represent value for money.

This week former Prime Minister David Cameron resigned as an MP with immediate effect, saying he did not want his disagreements with his successor Theresa May to become a “distraction”. He had previously stated he would remain as a backbencher until at least 2020, but reports suggest his difference of opinion with the PM on her proposed creation of new grammar schools may have forced his hand. The Conservative government is expected to face a rebellion from around 40 backbench MPs to the plans; allies of Mr Cameron said it is likely he would have also voted against the policy. In 2005 he described the prospect of bringing back grammar schools as “wrong”.

A ceasefire deal agreed by the US and Russia came into effect in Syria on Monday, between the armed opposition and the Syrian government. It is meant to be renewed every 48 hours and to allow for “unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access” to besieged areas. The deal did not include jihadist groups, however, and reports suggest certain commitments, such as safe passage of aid, have not been fulfilled. The US has said the deal could pave the way for a political transition, but on Saturday Russia warned that a US-led air attack killing dozens of government troops has endangered the truce.