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Stormont deal: Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill new top NI ministers Stormont deal: Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill new top NI ministers
(32 minutes later)
Sinn Féin and the DUP have re-entered devolved government in Northern Ireland after three years of deadlock.Sinn Féin and the DUP have re-entered devolved government in Northern Ireland after three years of deadlock.
DUP leader Arlene Foster has been appointed as Northern Ireland's first minister, while Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill is deputy first minister.DUP leader Arlene Foster has been appointed as Northern Ireland's first minister, while Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill is deputy first minister.
The two parties supported a deal to restore Stormont's political institutions.The two parties supported a deal to restore Stormont's political institutions.
Stormont's power-sharing coalition, led by the DUP and Sinn Féin, collapsed in January 2017.Stormont's power-sharing coalition, led by the DUP and Sinn Féin, collapsed in January 2017.
The first minister comes from the largest party in the assembly and deputy first minister is from the second-largest party.
The positions are known as a "diarchy" which means they are equal and govern together.
The deputy first minister is not actually subordinate to the first minister, despite the title.
'Differences'
Mrs Foster said the politicians have "many differences".Mrs Foster said the politicians have "many differences".
"Michelle's narrative of the past 40 years could not be more different to mine," she said."Michelle's narrative of the past 40 years could not be more different to mine," she said.
"I'm not sure we will ever agree on much about the past, but we can agree there was too much suffering, and that we cannot allow society to drift backwards and allow division to grow.""I'm not sure we will ever agree on much about the past, but we can agree there was too much suffering, and that we cannot allow society to drift backwards and allow division to grow."
She added that it was "time for Stormont to move forward".She added that it was "time for Stormont to move forward".
Michelle O'Neill said it was her "sincere wish that 2020 brings real change".Michelle O'Neill said it was her "sincere wish that 2020 brings real change".
She also pledged to immediately resolve the pay parity row that has led to industrial strike action among health workers.She also pledged to immediately resolve the pay parity row that has led to industrial strike action among health workers.
"I see no contradiction in declaring and delivering on our firm commitment to power sharing with unionism in the Stormont Assembly while also initiating a mature and inclusive debate about new political arrangements which examine Ireland's future beyond Brexit."I see no contradiction in declaring and delivering on our firm commitment to power sharing with unionism in the Stormont Assembly while also initiating a mature and inclusive debate about new political arrangements which examine Ireland's future beyond Brexit.
"Similarly, there is no contradiction in unionism working the existing constitutional arrangements while taking its rightful place in the conversation about what a new Ireland would look like."Similarly, there is no contradiction in unionism working the existing constitutional arrangements while taking its rightful place in the conversation about what a new Ireland would look like.
"We can do this while maintaining our independent distinct political identities and working in the best interests of all of the people.""We can do this while maintaining our independent distinct political identities and working in the best interests of all of the people."
Saturday marks four years since Arlene Foster first became Northern Ireland's first minister.Saturday marks four years since Arlene Foster first became Northern Ireland's first minister.
She took over from Peter Robinson, who resigned.She took over from Peter Robinson, who resigned.
All five main parties in Northern Ireland - the DUP, Sinn Féin, Alliance, SDLP and UUP - have joined the executive.All five main parties in Northern Ireland - the DUP, Sinn Féin, Alliance, SDLP and UUP - have joined the executive.
MLAs - members of the legislative assembly - met at Stormont on Saturday.MLAs - members of the legislative assembly - met at Stormont on Saturday.
Their first item of business at Stormont on Saturday was to elect Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey as the assembly's new speaker.Their first item of business at Stormont on Saturday was to elect Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey as the assembly's new speaker.
The DUP's Christopher Stalford; UUP's Roy Beggs and SDLP's Patsy McGlone are his three deputies.The DUP's Christopher Stalford; UUP's Roy Beggs and SDLP's Patsy McGlone are his three deputies.
Before the proceedings began, Alliance leader Naomi Long revealed that she would be accepting the position of justice minister.
All of the assembly ministers are set to be appointed on Saturday afternoon.
What caused Stormont to collapse?
Relations between the DUP and Sinn Féin had deteriorated in recent years as the two parties were diametrically opposed not only on Northern Ireland's position within the UK, but also issues such as the Irish language; same-sex marriage; abortion and how to deal with the legacy of the Troubles.
But unexpectedly it was a row over a green energy scheme which pushed their relationship past breaking point.
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme was set up by DUP leader Arlene Foster when she was enterprise minister, but it ran over budget and at one point threatened to cost taxpayers £490m.
Sinn Féin demanded that Mrs Foster step aside as first minister during an inquiry into the RHI scheme and when she refused, they pulled out of government on 9 January 2017.
How was a deal struck?
Two key sticking points in the Stormont talks were around an Irish language act and the petition of concern.
The purpose of petition of concern is to protect one community from legislation that would favour another and a valid petition requires the signatures of 30 MLAs.
The new deal says there is to be "meaningful reform" of the petition, which would be "reduced and returned to its intended purpose" and would "only be used in the most exceptional circumstances and as a last resort, having used every other mechanism".
The deal would see legislation created for the appointment of both an Irish language commissioner and an Ulster-Scots commissioner.
Earlier, Irish language group Conradh na Gaeilge welcomed thet deal as an "historic advancement" but added it "falls very much short" of promises for an Irish Language act.
Other key points in the deal include the Northern Ireland Executive settling an ongoing pay dispute with nurses and increasing policing numbers.