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.
Mr O’Toole says their “work in opposition is a critical part of the party going forward”.
“We have a broader vision of the future of this society on this island,” he says.
Mr O’Toole says “there is work that needs to be done”.
“I’m very confident that our role as a constructive opposition is contributing to the future development of the party and the profile of the party," he says.
Before opening to questions, Mr O'Toole says: "When the plans and targets come forward, honestly and truly we will be sincere and constructive in welcoming if that's necessary and be a critical friend if that is also necessary.
"But the fundamental point is that our politics has to move beyond platitudes, it has to move beyond PR and it has to get towards delivery and that is what today is all about."
Mr O’Toole says the party would prioritise:
Mr O'Toole goes on to say: "If we had been in government, I'd like to think we would have been slightly quicker out of the traps in publishing our plan than the seven months and counting that it took the executive."
Hey says It is important to prioritise and be concise so the party have distilled central topics.
"We have a handful of key headings... five key themes."
Mr O’Toole says the SDLP’s Plan for Change is a set of suggested interventions and high-level outcomes “that we think should guide the work of the Executive”.
He says to show that the SDLP is “serious about being constructive opposition”, the party is today launching its own plan for change.
“I have to be absolutely clear about this, this is not an alternative programme for government”.
Matthew O'Toole, the leader of the opposition at Stormont, says they are "all excited about the time ahead for our party".
"I am reminded of the phrase: 'Waiting a long time for a bus and more than one comes at once.'
"We have been waiting a long time for the executive and now we have more than one plan for government.
"We want to show that we are being constructive and that we have a plan."
Ms Hanna says she has "some things to learn about leadership", but knows that it is important to delegate.
She passes over to the SDLP's Matthew O'Toole.
Claire Hanna says the SDLP is committed to holding the executive to account.
"The time has passed for aspiration, for talking about hope and for long documents with lots of places to hide. We have had enough of that.
"We need targets we need timelines and we need choices."
She says that "crucially, we need a culture change", adding: "We need to move to a time where leadership is more than an image, it is a practice."
Claire Hanna says it is back to school day for Stormont.
She says she is very pleased that "200 days-plus" after the Executive was formed that there is about to be a programme for government.
Ms Hanna says the Executive has been "visible less than the Northern Lights".
Image source, PA MediaClaire Hanna is set to become the next leader of the SDLP after nominations for the post closed at noon on Friday.
The party confirmed that, as expected, the MP for Belfast South and Mid Down is the only person in the running.
She will replace Colum Eastwood, who endorsed her when he resigned in August.
She will be ratified in the post at the SDLP conference on 5 October - but this morning joins Matthew O'Toole for her first press conference since nominations closed.
Ms Hanna was recently re-elected as the MP for Belfast South and Mid Down with a majority of more than 12,000 votes.
Press the play button at the top of this page to watch live.
Image source, PA MediaStormont's leader of the opposition, SDLP assembly member Matthew O'Toole, was less complimentary of the draft programme last week.
"To call it broad brush would be generous," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme on Thursday.
"I think it was a slightly absurd spectacle, to watch executive ministers trot out to a press conference to read out a set of broad, thematic aspirations and themes," he added.
"They couldn't even be called goals or targets."
Image source, PA MediaSpeaking at a press conference following a meeting of the executive on Thursday, First Minister Michelle O’Neill said agreeing the draft programme "marks a really important step in our journey as a four-party executive".
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said "despite the difficult budget we can still improve lives in a meaningful way by focusing on a small number of prioritised action that will make a difference".
Ms O'Neill described the draft programme as a "significant strategy” and “wide-ranging programme".
Ms O’Neill said ministers were determined to "provide hope and create opportunities… with the budget that we have”, but added that "the battle for additional finance, for a proper financial model for this place is top of our agenda".
Mrs Little-Pengelly said that over the next few weeks ministers would "engage with people right throughout Northern Ireland about our plan".
“We genuinely want to hear from people about how we can improve lives for the better," she said.
The programme for government sets out priorities for the Northern Ireland Executive for the remaining two-and-a-half years of the assembly term.
The nine priorities for the government are:
Image source, Getty ImagesGood morning and welcome to a big day in politics.
The Stormont Executive will publish its long-awaited draft programme for government later.
It was signed off by the Northern Ireland Executive on Thursday more than seven months after the return of devolution.
Meanwhile, Claire Hanna, who is set to become the next leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), will join Matthew O’Toole this morning for the launch of the opposition’s Plan for Change at the Stormont Hotel.
It'll be the first time Mrs Hanna has addressed the media since nominations for the post of SDLP leader closed on Friday - she is the only person in the running.
We’ll bring you the latest as it happens.
