MLA's To Meet At Stormont To Appoint New Assembly

Northern Ireland's MLA's are to meet at Stormont today, 25 May, to appoint the new Assembly.

The DUP and Sinn Fein will fill most of the posts in the Executive.

The UUP and SDLP are to form an opposition.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said that Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, Michelle O'Neill, Chris Hazzard and Megan Fearon will join him in the executive.

Carál Ní Chuilín is to be appointed group leader and Assembly party whip. 

Mr McGuiness said: "We are grateful for the mandate we received and will set delivering as Ministers at the Executive.

"The task ahead of us will be extremely challenging as the Tory party continue with their austerity agenda and as we continue to resolve the issues of the past and build unity, reconciliation, and equality."

SF Leader Gerry Adams said: "I am confident that the new Sinn Féin Ministers will contribute positively to defending the rights of citizens and promoting the equality agenda.

"As an Irish republican party Sinn Féin will also continue to pursue our political goal of a united Ireland and we will work in the time ahead to remove the social, economic and political barriers that exist to greater co-operation."

Ulster Unionist Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA, said: "Wednesday will be a momentous day for politics in Northern Ireland with the formation of the first Official Opposition in the Assembly since devolution returned in 1998. We are under no illusion that there will be many challenges ahead. But I can assure the public that the Ulster Unionist Party team is up for it and ready to test ourselves in the coming months and years.

"The Ulster Unionist Party has pushed itself to the limits before and we will do it again. We don't underestimate how difficult it will be, but there are exciting opportunities ahead. This is a new era in politics which can further normalise relationships and help create a better society for all the people of Northern Ireland."

(CD)