Talkback
BBC News NI

Lots more politics to be digested on Talkback on BBC Radio Ulster, which is on air now - you can listen to it by clicking here.

The DUP's Gordon Dunne questions whether the public is "getting value for money" from the School Enhancement Programme (SEP) or if the cash would be better put into constructing new school buildings.

Image source, NI Assembly

"Is [upgrading existing school buildings] just a short-term exercise which is putting off the dreaded day when we need new buildings?" asks the North Down representative.

Education Minister Peter Weir says if money was spent solely on new builds there would be a limited amount of schools that could benefit, whereas the SEP can help schools that don't need a complete rebuild.

The SDLP's Colin McGrath says there's sometimes concern that the amount of time between the announcement of cash for projects such as school upgrades and the "shovel actually going into the ground" is too long.

He wants a guarantee from Education Minister Peter Weir that the work will be carried out in good time.

Mr Weir says that because the work doesn't include major rebuilds it can be done "as soon as can be practical" for each of the schools set to benefit from the project.

Education Minister Peter Weir has the privilege of making the first ministerial statement since the resumption of business at Parliament Buildings.

He announces the latest group of schools in line for upgrades under the School Enhancement Programme, which makes between £500,000 to £4m available for repairs or extension work.

Image source, Getty Images

The 18 schools that may receive funding include primary, post-primary and special schools.

Chris Lyttle of the Alliance Party - earlier reappointed as the Education Committee chair - welcomes the investment but says "radical reform" is needed too, while Sinn Féin's Karen Mullan asks if the minister will increase the number of major school building projects.

Mr Weir says it's part of a "wider jigsaw" of capital investment across Northern Ireland.

BBC News NI

A general election is due to be held in the Republic of Ireland on Saturday 8 February, the country's national broadcaster RTÉ reports.

Image source, PA Media

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (above) is expected to ask President Michael D Higgins to dissolve the Irish parliament later today, marking the beginning of the election campaign.

Mr Varadkar addressed ministers at a cabinet meeting this morning and he'll brief opposition leaders later.

Technical difficulties strike in the chamber! The results of the vote about the role of the principal deputy speaker won't be revealed for a while, says Speaker Alex Maskey (below), because of IT problems.

Image source, NI Assembly

Having not been used for the past three years maybe the assembly computer system needs a bit of a dusting down and an upgrade.

On to other business then - it's time for a statement from Education Minister Peter Weir about the School Enhancement Programme.

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI

Amid the debate about the role of the principal deputy speaker, Speaker Alex Maskey dishes out a slapdown to Colin McGrath of the SDLP.

Mr Maskey tells the assembly - aiming his remarks at Mr McGrath - that he'll take action if anyone crosses him again.

Sky News

Away from the assembly, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood tells Sky News the financial commitment made to Stormont by the government is "not going to be enough".

"It won't match the commitments that they made only last week to try to transform this place," says the Foyle MP.

Image source, PA Media

There's an "awful lot" to do to transform the health and education systems in Northern Ireland, he says, as well as boosting the economy to make sure "we don't have to continually go begging looking for more money from Treasury".

"Last night's meeting around the finances of all of this don't make us very comfortable," he adds.

Speaker Alex Maskey calls the next item of business - the election of a principal deputy speaker.

The SDLP's Nichola Mallon rises to object to the process, saying there's "no purpose or point" to the post.

Gordon Lyons of the DUP proposes his party colleague Christopher Stalford (below) for the position.

Image source, NI Assembly

Referring to Mr Stalford's reputation as a young fogey (he's 36), Mr Lyons says the principal deputy speaker could return to the tradition of wearing of a wig and robes if his party colleague is elected.

The Alliance Party joins the SDLP in opposing the election of a principal deputy speaker, while the TUV leader Jim Allister says the post is purely "for vanity purposes".

The members file out into the lobby of the house to vote on the appointment.

The Assembly Commission is the corporate body of the Northern Ireland Assembly and is concerned with the assembly's property, staff and services.

It requires five members who will work with the speaker.

Image source, NI Assembly

The members appointed to the commission are:

• Kellie Armstrong, Alliance Party
• Robbie Butler, UUP
• Pam Cameron, DUP
• Dolores Kelly, SDLP
• John O'Dowd, Sinn Féin

There are six other committees that deal with matters such as public finances and rules for how the assembly operates, for example.

Here are the appointments for the chairs of those committees:

• William Humphrey, DUP - chair of the Public Accounts Committee
• Sinéad Ennis, Sinn Féin - chair of the Standards and Privileges Committee
• Mervyn Storey, DUP - chair of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee
• Carál NíChuilín, Sinn Féin - chair of the Procedures Committee
• Daniel McCrossan, SDLP - chair of the Audit Committee

Image source, NI Assembly

And here are the MLAs who will deputise for the chairs on those committees:

• Roy Beggs, UUP - vice-chair of the Public Accounts Committee
• William Irwin, DUP - vice-chair of the Standards and Privileges Committee
• Maolíosa McHugh, Sinn Féin - vice-chair of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee
• Andrew Muir (above), Alliance Party - vice-chair of the Audit Committee
• Tom Buchanan, DUP - vice-chair of the Procedures Committee

Image source, NI Assembly

On to the vice-chairs now and after a quick nomination process here's a list of who'll be taking up those roles on the various departmental committees:

• Paul Frew, DUP - Finance Committee
• Linda Dillon (above), Sinn Féin - Justice Committee
• Sinead McLaughlin, SDLP - Economy Committee
• Gary Middleton, DUP - Health Committee
• Karen Mullan, Sinn Féin - Education Committee
• Mike Nesbitt, UUP - Executive Office Committee
• David Hilditch, DUP - Infrastructure Committee
• Philip McGuigan, Sinn Féin - Agriculture Committee
• Kellie Armstrong, Alliance Party - Communities Committee

Image source, NI Assembly

These MLAs have been appointed by their parties to important roles leading the assembly committees that will scrutinise the work of the executive departments:

• Paul Givan (above), DUP - Justice Committee
• Caoimhe Archibald, Sinn Féin - Economy Committee
• Paula Bradley, DUP - Communities Committee
• Colm Gildernew, Sinn Féin - Health Committee
• Colin McGrath, SDLP - Executive Committee
• Steve Aiken, UUP - Finance Committee
• Michelle McIlveen, DUP - Infrastructure Committee
• Declan McAleer, Sinn Féin - Agriculture Committee
• Chris Lyttle, Alliance Party - Education Committee

Some of those MLAs have plenty of experience chairing assembly committees, while others are taking up the posts for the first time.

On to the main business of establishing the statutory committees for the assembly.

They are made up of backbench MLAs who scrutinise the work of the executive departments and they also play an important role in the making of new laws.

Image source, NI Assembly

There are nine committees to be filled.

They cover the departments of agriculture, communities, economy, education, the Executive Office, finance, health, and infrastructure.

The new Speaker Alex Maskey and the MLAs have taken their seats in the chamber, all mad keen to get started.

For a taste of what's coming up you can find the order of business for today's sitting of the assembly by clicking here, external.

There's a quick mention at the outset to confirm Matthew O'Toole (above) has become a fully signed-up member of the assembly, replacing Claire Hanna as the SDLP's new MLA for South Belfast.

Mr O'Toole enters the chamber with plenty of behind-the-scenes political experience having worked as a Downing Street spokesman.

BBC News NI

Since the power-sharing government at Stormont was restored, we've had plenty of questions from BBC News NI readers.

From gay marriage legislation to languages, public finances to the cash-for-ash scandal, there's been plenty for us to answer.

You can read our answers to your questions about what happens next by clicking here.

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI

The Northern Ireland Executive is meeting to discuss the government's offer of money to implement the Stormont deal.

It's understood Health Minister Robin Swann will also update the executive on his plans to resolve the pay parity dispute for health workers.

Image source, Getty

He's due to meet health unions later this morning.

Finance Minister Conor Murphy has said the proposed financial support was "way short" of what was expected.

After the fuss up on Stormont hill yesterday with the visits of Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar, it's back to business today as the new Northern Ireland Assembly creaks into action.

On today's agenda in the chamber is the appointment of the chairs for the nine scrutiny committees.

Image source, Reuters

We're also due to hear from the Education Minister Peter Weir, who'll give a statement on the School Enhancement Programme.

The proceedings begin at 10:30 GMT and are expected to be relatively short but we'll keep you updated throughout.