A treaty forging closer links between police services in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic is to be signed next month.

Details of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Police Co-operation were announced in Thursday by Security Minister Jane Kennedy.

Officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland will be able to apply for posts in the Garda Siochana and vice versa.

There will also be a programme of secondment between the two forces.

Experience

Ms Kennedy said the plans demonstrated progress towards furthering proposals contained in the revised police implementation plan published earlier this year.

"Officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland will be able to apply for posts in the Garda Siochana, and vice versa," she explained.

"There will also be a programme of secondment between the two services, to enable police officers to develop and enhance their professional skills from experience with the other organisation."

British and Irish Government officials, together with representatives from the PSNI, Gardai, and the Policing Board have been involved in discussions.

The agreement was made under the auspices of the British-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference.