Sister O'Leary adds: "We accept the systemic failings identified by Sir Anthony Hart."

She also acknowledges the practices outlined were wrong.

"We deeply regret that our care fell short of what you needed and deserved at such a critical time in your lives," she says

Sister Cait O’Leary of the Good Shepherd Sisters says: “We wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge sincerely that mistakes were made in the care we provided to girls and young women."

She says the process of changing names should not have happened and that the humiliation of those in their care for misdemeanors amounted to emotional abuse.

"For children admitted in an emergency situation we acknowledge that you did not receive appropriate long-term child-centred care and it was not acceptable that you were expected to take engage in industrial work," she adds

"For this practice we are truly sorry."

Next up is Uainin Clark, the regional leader for Ireland from the Sisters of St Louis, which ran St Joseph's Training School in Middletown, County Armagh.

She says the order accepts the findings of the HIA Inquiry that during the 1950s and 1960s a harsh regime existed in St Joseph's.

"To those of you who suffered at any time while in St Joseph's and are still carrying that pain, we say: We are especially sorry that when you were a child or a teenager you did not always feel safe or believed by those in St Joseph's.

"Instead of meeting love and encouragement you sometimes met the opposite - harshness and a lack of love and understanding.

"Any child or teenager who was ever in St Joseph's Middletown was vulnerable and so it was truly shameful that you did not know for who or to whom you could turn to support."

Sister Walsh adds there are no acceptable excuses for what happened to abuse victims.

She says the order accepts that there was systemic physical abuse and that bullying was prevalent.

She says there was a regime of excessive chores and this amounted to a form of abuse.

"We accept that when you sought our help to prevent physical or sexual abuse we did not believe you."

Sister Cornelia Walsh of the Sisters of Nazareth stands up to address survivors

"We offer this sincere apology to you if you were in the care of Nazareth Houses in Belfast and Derry and for those were sent to Australasia as young children, for those whose experiences under our care between 1922 to 1995 had a detrimental impact on you.

"We recognise your pain and the long-awaited journey you have travelled to reach this day."

Fr Manning says he accepts Sir Anthony Hart’s conclusion “that it happened to some boys is enough to find systemic failure to keep boys safe from harm”.

He says the order "recognises that fear, shame and punishment were experienced" and that those affected "carried this trauma throughout their lives".

Fr Manning says education was poor that some children left unable to read or write.

"Their experiences have left lasting damage," he says.

"We recognise our part in the pain caused to you, we cannot undo it but we wish to say we are genuinely sorry."

The first to apologise on behalf of the institutions is Fr Francis Manning, from the De La Salle Brothers. a Catholic religious order.

He began by saying they accepted responsibility “on our part in which the standard of care did not always respond appropriately to the many needs of vulnerable children".

"We acknowledge failures in care and education services provided by us.

"We accept there were children in our care subjected to physical and sexual abuse.

"We accept we did not take sufficient investigations into allegations of abuse and ensure prosecutions were appropriate.

"These serious failure are a matter of profund regret to the De La Salle brothers."

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political correspondent

Five long years after this apology was first recommended, today has seen five Stormont ministers finally deliver it.

They addressed directly those men and women whose childhoods where stolen in places where they were meant to be protected.

From early this morning, the Great Hall at Stormont was filled with emotion as survivors arrived in different groups to take their places for the event.

Some of the tireless campaigners smiled as they reflected on reaching this step of their journey.

For a time, making this moment happen seemed out of reach - but now 11 March will always belong to these survivors.

Mr Murphy says ministers will continue to hear the voices of victims and survivors and that children in care "must have support to express their views".

Mr Murphy adds: "Whilst we are focused on supporting people now, we are very conscious of those no longer with us.

"Indeed, we are very mindful today of the many victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse who have died.

"Sadly, they did not live to see the justice, or have the acknowledgement, they deserved."

He says the apology is unconditional and echoes the words of his fellow ministers - and, with that, their section of the official apology is over.

Next, we will hear from six representatives from different institutions that ran facilities where abuse took place.

The final minister to speak is now on his feet - Finance Minister Conor Murphy, from Sinn Féin.

He says "we understand the importance of today's apology" and that he recognises it has taken "too long" for victims to hear it.

"You, and all victims and survivors, deserve nothing less than full acknowledgement of the harm inflicted on you as children, and the suffering you have endured throughout your lives as a result of our failures," he says.

"You deserve to be supported in the right way, as recommended by Sir Anthony Hart."

Referring now to one of Sir Anthony's key recommendations, compensation, the ministers says victims deserve a redress process sensitive to their needs.

"We hope that changes coming from the independent review will make the redress journey a much more victim-centred process."

Robin Swann says that today across all health, educational, and youth justice environments children’s welfare and their protection is paramount and non-negotiable.

"You, and people who have come before you, who have had the courage to bring to light issues of abuse, have shaped the robust safeguarding measures in place today; measures that now provide the safest possible environments for our children and young people," he says.

He adds: "Systemic abuse should never have happened.

"We are truly sorry that it did happen and we commit fully to ensuring that it will never happen again."

Health Minister Robin Swann, from the Ulster Unionist Party, says the assembly wants to acknowledge all who had the courage to speak up and highlight horrendous abuse.

"This was often done at great personal cost," he says.

"What happened to each and every one of you was wrong.

"It should not have happened and it is critical that every possible step is taken to ensure that nothing like this happens to any other child in the care of the state – ever again."

Nichola Mallon says many survivors did not know they had brothers and sisters when they were growing up.

"It is hard to comprehend the impact of this separation from those you were closest to, from those who loved you," she says.

"We deeply regret how this affected the rest of your life, your trust in others and your sense of identity."

She ends her speech by paying tribute "to your courage in making this contribution for the benefit of those who came after you".

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon, from the SDLP, is now on her feet - she tells the assembly that the abuse inquiry "shone a light on a dark, harsh and bleak period of our past".

She says no apology "can make up for our failings, and the pain that you as victims and survivors have endured as a result".

"But we hope that our clear and outright acknowledgement will bring some relief."

She adds: "None of this was of your doing, and none of this was your fault."

The justice minister says that when children are taken into care they should be safe.

She adds: "Some 13 years after you first came to Parliament Buildings, the courage and determination of all of you means that you are sitting here today listening closely to what is being said.

"We pay tribute to your courage and determination, and to your staying power."

She finishes up by saying the persistence and determination of survivors had shaped a "completely different approach" to how children are treated in the care and justice systems.

"The way we do things today is designed to protect our children. We did not always do that in the past, and for that we are truly sorry."

Now it's Justice Minister Naomi Long, from the Alliance Party.

She says the assembly chamber is a fitting place for the apology as it's where laws are made and those who govern are held to account.

She says no-one can undo what happened in the past.

"However, we – as law makers and policy makers – can commit to doing everything we can within our power to make the right laws, the right policies and the right guidance; and to provide the right support services for those who need it.

"We acknowledge your desire to make sure that future generations of children will never have to suffer the abuse you experienced – we echo that desire and it is our job to make sure that does not happen."

Ms McIlveen says what survivors told ministers they needed to hear was that they were believed when they told their story.

"You were not believed. We are sorry that you were not believed," she says.

"The state has listened to you and the state believes you.

"We are truly sorry," she concludes.

It's now the turn of ministers to speak - first up is Education Minister Michelle McIlveen, from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

She says "today we say that we are sorry" for how children were let down by the state.

"We did not ensure these homes were all free from hunger and cold; from mistreatment and abuse.

"It was the state’s responsibility to do that, and it failed you.

"We neglected you, rejected you, we made you feel unwanted. It was not your fault. The state let you down."

Fiona Ryan says we must remember all of the survivors of institutional abuse, including those sent to other countries and those for whom words will never be enough.

She says we need to acknowledge people who have died "who will not hear this apology".

She adds that if there's a question over the lifelong impact of childhood abuse, then loved ones of survivors who have died will tell people that "in their final days it was their earliest years they remembered".

"We can only acknowledge and pay tribute to their courage and the courage of all survivors and ensure the words said today are underwritten by action and commitment to do right."

She finishes her remarks by calling for a minute's silence in the assembly chamber. The silence ends with a spontaneous round of applause.

The commissioner says a survivor of abuse described the process of getting redress and an apology as "tortuous".

"How else do you describe having to fight every day when you are already hurting so badly from hurts of the heart, of the mind and the spirit caused by systemic abuse throughout your childhood?" she asks.

"For let us be clear why we are here today and what is being apologised for.

"We are talking about the systemic physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect of children for decades in residential institutions in Northern Ireland."