The Stormont Executive publishes its long-awaited draft programme for government (PfG).
It was signed off by the Northern Ireland Executive last Thursday, more than seven months after the return of devolution.
The 88-page document, entitled Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most, sets out the executive's ambitions under several core areas.
It outlines nine "immediate priorities" the executive intends to work on this year and for the duration of its electoral mandate.
It was unveiled after being shown to MLAs and debated as the assembly returned from its summer recess.
Earlier, the incoming SDLP leader, Claire Hanna, set out the party's Plan for Change.
She said, as the opposition at Stormont, the party was committed to holding the executive to account.
It's been a busy day on the politics front, as the assembly gets back to business after the summer recess.
But that brings our live coverage of the unveiling of the draft programme for government to an end.
The executive is now undertaking an eight-week public consultation on its plan., external
Till next time, goodbye.
Additional reporting by Hayley Halpin, Ashleigh Swan, Jake Wood and Matt Fox.
The draft programme has been presented to assembly members.
The 88-page document, entitled 'Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most, external' outlines nine "immediate priorities" the executive intends to work on this year and for the duration of its electoral mandate.
They are:
Outlining the plan on Monday afternoon, Deputy First Minister Emma-Little Pengelly told the chamber: "We must all focus on delivering this programme together for everyone.
"We know that there are challenges but there are opportunities."
First Minister Michelle O'Neill described the programme as a "draft document" and said the Executive is in "listening mode".
"This is very much the basis in which we think we can go out to consultation but there is no doubt that there will be very constructive comments that will come forward," Ms O'Neill said.
The Executive will have an eight-week public consultation period, external with twelve weeks for an equality impact screening.
Questions on the statement have concluded and the assembly is suspended, before the next order of business which is question time.
SDLP MLA Justin McNulty asks if the Executive will commit to the completion of Casement Park in time for Euro 2028.
Ms Little-Pengelly welcomes the fact that the communities minister has announced the Northern Ireland Football Fund, external.
She says he “will be doing his best to go further” in terms of that support.
The fund is intended to modernise the physical infrastructure used by local clubs to play the game of football at senior and grassroots level in Northern Ireland.
Casement Park has been chosen as one of the host venues for Euro 2024, however, uncertainty remains over how the project will be funded and if it can be built in time.
Claire Sugden, the independent unionist MLA, says she is very disappointed that there has been no mention of older people and asks why it was overlooked?
The first minster says that is why the executive is asking people to engage with the draft programme for government. She says the nine priorities the government have will affect older people.
She says: "If we need something more in terms of referencing older people in particular then lets have that conversation."
She finishes by saying that she agrees Northern Ireland has an aging populations and tells Ms Sugden she is happy to engage in conversations to focus on that.
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll says that in light of the opening of the new Grand Central Station in Belfast "the government here spends the lowest amount among these islands on public transport, hundreds less per head compared to other regions".
He asks ministers to be "open and transparent" on how they are "going to fund that gap".
The deputy first minister responds by saying public transport is an issue that will be focused on in the investment strategy.
She adds that "there is the issue of sustainability at the moment... we have ambition to tackle this but that can only happen if we have the right resources, funding and budget".
"We will be unceasing in making that case that Northern Ireland gets the fair funding it deserves."
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston highlights that there is no mention of the Protocol or the Windsor Framework.
Ms O’Neill notes that the PfG is an Executive document and owned by the four parties of the Executive.
She says she knows Mr Gaston is “relatively new” to the chamber, but says he has eight weeks now to consider the document.
She notes that the document talks about growing the economy and Northern Ireland having a “unique selling point” and reaching for that opportunity. She adds it talks about the creation of more and better paid jobs and regional balance.
“These are all really positive things that we must reach for because if we’re going to lift everybody up in society and create opportunity for everybody then it’s important that we grow our economy, that we don’t just focus on the challenges we have, which of course there are many, but there are much, much more opportunities that we have,” she says.
Nick Mathison of the Alliance party says he welcomes the commitment to supporting kids with special educational needs.
He also asks the deputy first minster how the executive will ensure that departments will collaborate.
She says the issue of special educational needs is a big challenge and that is why it has been made a priority.
She says "delivery is important" and that collaborating across the departments is important.
The SDLP's Mark Durkan raises the issue of the Mobuoy Dump in County Londonderry.
"Primacy seems to have been given to Lough Neagh, which I understand, but could I ask for the inclusion of a remediation programme of the Mobouy illegal dump, which is critical not only for the environment but for the economic development of the north west."
The first minister says that "the raft of things that are there in terms of the climate and energy area are quite strong".
"I am very confident that the minister himself is looking at that area, and I'm sure he will have more to say on that in the coming days."
Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland says she is disappointed that poverty wasn’t made a priority.
She asks what the key actions are to tackle issues at the heart of poverty in society.
Ms Little-Pengelly says that “of course, tackling poverty is important”.
“You’ll see throughout the programme for government we have that aspiration to ensure that everyone can reach their full potential and that must, of course, mean supporting and tackling those issues of poverty,” she says.
The SDLP's Sinead McLaughlin says regional inequality needs to end and asks the first minster what steps will be taken to show that regional balance is a priority.
The first minister says she is very confident that the document is for everyone no matter where they live. She says the economy minster has set out regional balance as one of his four economic priorities.
"This plan is about everybody, its about lifting everybody up and it needs to be fair."
Sinn Féin's Declan McAleer asks the ministers if they agree that "regional balance must be a central component of the PfG?"
Emma Little-Pengelly responds by assuring that "we want to deliver not just for people who live in Belfast...we want to deliver for everyone no matter where you live in Norhern Ireland."
If we are going to grow our economy" then "that has to be right throughout Northern Ireland".
She adds that "there are measures in the PfG to tackle regional disparities".
Alliance MLA Michelle Guy asks what measures will be launched for school-age childcare.
Ms O’Neill says “we’ve only got going” in terms of what the Executive has been able to achieve.
She says they have been able to secure £9m for the 15% childcare subsidy. She says she understands this is for pre-school age and that they have work to do to “try and build it up”.
Ms O’Neill says they have been able to support £7m towards supporting children who are facing disadvantage and £2m towards childcare providers.
She adds that they have “made moves” towards the universal pre-school education programme being expanded to give up to 22.5 hours for children aged three to four.
She says “that’s just the start of us getting going”.
The first minister says: "The biggest burden for families right now in terms of childcare would be that pre-school age, that's why we've started there".
Cathy Mason from Sinn Féin asks if the deputy first minister agrees more needs to be done on childcare.
The deputy first minster says "childcare has been a priority from day one".
She says the Executive knows the cost of child care is a "huge burden on families" but welcomes the feedback that thousands have received payments through the childcare fund that has been rolled out.
She says: "It doesn't go far enough, but it does make a difference".
"We will make the best possible case we can for additional resources. We are looking at what we have to do to prioritise those hard working families."
The SDLP's Colin McGrath asks ministers to apologise to "the hundreds of thousands of people who are languishing on waiting lists who will look at this statement today for some hope but don't see any concrete actions, just some warm words."
Ms O'Neill says: "I just don't agree."
"We are going to do absolutely everything we can to help them get their treatment, we are going to work night and day to try and fix our health service."
She adds that "we are determined to fight for good finances here" and "investment in our health service".
Alliance MLA John Blair says a meaningful environmental improvement plan is “crucial”.
He asks whether the ministers agree that the publication of a plan is now urgently and legally required.
Ms Little-Pengelly says the issue of Executive business is “confidential”, but adds that she agrees having an environmental plan is “important”.
She welcomes the fact that this is a “priority action because we know that it is having a very detrimental impact, we only have to look at Lough Neagh, we know the importance of Lough Neagh, we know the importance of those environmental aspects”.
“But of course, it is linked to other policies.”
She says it is “not going to be an easy fix”.
The DUP's Dianne Dodds asks the first minster if she "recognises that there are structural problems and inequalities within the health service that will require huge decisions of this executive."
She then asks if the health minister has presented his plan to transform the health service to the executive.
The first minster says it is one of the nine priorities set out in the programme for government. She says "we all have constituents in dire situations waiting," and who are sometimes forced to beg, borrow and steal to get private healthcare.
She says: "It's not acceptable and not good enough."
"There is a lot to do there and it is a priority for us."
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney points out that public services have been significantly underfunded for a number of years.
He goes on to say that "the early indications are that this new Labour government will prioritise austerity over the resilience of public services".
He asks "do you believe that we have sufficient resources to deliver this PfG?"
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly responds by saying: "This Executive has a determination to deliver" but she adds "the ability to deliver is based on the budget that we have.
"We could do more to improve lives if we had a better budget... up until this point, our budget has really struggled."
She adds that she "welcomes the fact that they will be meeting with the Chancellor on Thursday along with the finance minister and we will be raising the sustainable and proper funding for Northern Ireland".
DUP MLA Robbie Butler asks if the Executive will commit to a stable government.
Ms O’Neill says “we’re launching a draft programme for government, it doesn’t get more real than that”.
She says they have set out “very real and meaningful” plans.
“We’re focused on prosperity and lifting everybody up,” the first minister says.
She says the public want political leaders to work together.
“They want us to find solutions to the big problems of today,” Ms O’Neill says, saying they have “cracked” that in the programme for government.
Brian Kingston of the DUP says he welcomes the publication of the draft but asks for more detail on how the executive will carry out the consultation.
The deputy first minister says: "It is critically important that we do listen to people, ultimately we want to deliver and what we want to deliver will impact all throughout Northern Ireland."
She says there will be a range of methods on how the consultation will take place.
She says there will be an online form or people can send their opinions by post. She also says the executive will go out and engage through workshops and roadshows.
