Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill (below) makes a statement on the executive's legislative programme - it's basically a list of the new laws ministers want to introduce before the end of the assembly mandate in May 2022.

She says that timeframe constrains on the number of bills that can be passed but the constraints "will place a discipline on all partners in the legislative process - departments, ministers, the assembly and of committees to progress legislation efficiently and to accord the progress of bills due priority".

Image source, Ni Assembly

Issues up for legislation include:

Executive Office

• Office of identity and Cultural Expression
• Irish language commissioner
• Official recognition of the status of the Irish language

Department for Communities

• Welfare mitigation
• Housing
• Pension schemes
• Liquor licencing

Department of Finance

• Two budget bills

Department of Justice

• Criminal Justice Bill
• Domestic Abuse Bill

Finance Minister Conor Murphy moves the consideration stage of the Budget Bill.

That would usually herald a lengthy debate lasting into the wee hours but the bill has been granted accelerated passage so it goes through on the nod and we're straight on to the next piece of business.

Green Party leader Clare Bailey asks the environment minister for a update on moves to establish an independent environmental protection agency, which the assembly recently expressed support for.

Image source, NI Assembly

The minister says an environment bill is coming soon and an office for the environment will be established as part of that.

He says it'll be "wholly independent of government".

The SDLP's Pat Catney asks about the possible role of farmers in forest management to address both climate change and flood plain management.

Environment Minister Edwin Poots says his department is looking at a mapping scheme that would help identify significant "run-offs".

Image source, Getty Images

"Those areas would be areas where we would be particularly encouraging farmers to plant trees," he says.

Mr Poots says farmers are not allowed to spread slurry within five metres of waterways and the department would like to encourage farmers to plant trees there.

Next up we have a statement from Environment Minister Edwin Poots on afforestation - or planting lots of trees if you prefer.

He says the level of tree cover in Northern Ireland is 8%, compared with 13% in the UK, 11% in the Republic of Ireland and 43% in the European Union.

Image source, Getty Images

"There is a clear case for expanding forest cover here to support a thriving environment, a strong economy and healthy, active communities," the minister says.

He says he's going to start a 10-year programme of afforestation called Forests For Our Future.

The aim is to plant 18 million trees by 2030, creating 9,000 hectares of new woodland - an equivalent of up to 10 trees per person.

The DUP's Maurice Bradley asks the environment minister if the Northern Ireland protocol puts the region at a disadvantage in the British market.

"The trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain is absolutely critical and essential and that's why the proposed protocol that has been put in place is hugely damaging," replies Edwin Poots.

Image source, Getty Images

Replying to a later question, the minister says neither he nor his Scottish counterpart have said that they are willing to accept any checks at any ports

Mr Poots says that if the Republic of Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney had his way "there would be tens of thousands of checks".

Sinn Féin's Declan McAleer, who chairs the Agriculture Committee, asks about the question of migrant labour for the agricultural and food sectors.

He makes particular mention of the points-based immigration policy recently announced by the UK government.

Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots says "only around 9% of people who are currently engaged in the agri-food sector would qualify under the proposed scheme".

Image source, NI Assembly

He says his department has raised the issue with the executive and the UK business minister.

The executive is going to write to the UK government with its concerns.

"I don't see what is currently proposed as adequately meeting the needs in terms of what we need in the agri-food industry," says the minister.

Business starts with a statement from Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots on the recent meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment,Food and Rural Affairs.

It's a body bringing together minsters from the devolved administrations and the UK government.

Image source, NI Assembly

The meeting was held in Belfast and focused on the agricultural aspects of the Brexit negotiations.

Mr Poots says he emphasised the "huge fundamental problems for Northern Ireland agri-food business that would be caused by imposing tariffs from GB to NI".

It's one of those chilly, sunny days on the Stormont estate as we prepare to bring you live coverage of today's business at the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Today's big story is the statement from Health Minister Robin Swann on the executive's response to the emergence of coronavirus.

Image source, Reuters

That's scheduled for 15:30 but it could happen earlier depending on how much headway the MLAs make with earlier business.

The session kicks off at 12:00. Stick with us for what promises to be a fascinating day.