Ms O'Neill says there is a need to "ensure communities are fully educated, engaged and empowered," adding that "coronavirus does not respect any politics or borders".

The deputy first minister pays tribute to the "very good cooperation" taking place north and south of the border to tackle the virus.

She adds that, "to date" the Covid community helpline "has been contacted by over 12,000 people" who are mainly trying to access food parcels.

She says that "over 57,000 food boxes containing essential food items have been delivered".

Image source, NI Assembly

The deputy first minister adds that "restrictions will be lifted when the time is right and it’s not in the too distant future".

"If people continue to adhere to the pubic advice, which is working, we will be able to remove the restrictions more quickly and restore your freedoms without further delay."

Michelle O’Neill, the Deputy First Minister, says “we’re in the biggest challenge of our lifetime”.

She says Covid-19 has caused great hardship and that the executive “does not underestimate the severe impact of the restrictions” on society.

“There’s a public awareness and understanding,” she says, adding “we have collectively saved thousands of lives”.

Sinn Féin's deputy leader says the executive is appealing to the public to be patient.

She adds, "life as we know it has changed, we will have to continue to adjust".

Ms O'Neill says that while we "slowly and carefully move out of lockdown, we will keep you updated every step of the way".

"While the restrictions are still absolutely necessary, it is important we give people hope for the future," she adds.

Image source, NI Assembly

The deputy first minister says the "incremental five-step approach represents the risk evaluation we will make at each stage".

She says all decision will be "evidenced by medical and scientific advice".

"This expert advice and evidence will be bench marked against criteria and best practice" from across the globe.

"We will then make risk-based assessments of the restrictions in place and then decide what to ease and when to ease them."

The deputy first minister says the executive will "not keep the restrictions in place a moment longer than they are required".

"We have to be prepare to step forward and step back if this is needed," she adds.

"Controlling the rate of transmission is absolutely critical," says Mrs O'Neill.

Mrs Foster says the current re-transmission rate of less than one "has been achieved because of the restrictions being in place and adherence to them".

She says the transmission rate 'R' "will continue to be central to the judgements we make in the coming weeks".

The first ministers says that changes to restrictions will only progress "if it is safe to do so".

She says the executive will not be driven by a timetable and that some people will be disappointed at not having specific information around things that affect them directly.

Image source, Getty Images

"Our restrictions have worked and they have, and are saving lives," Mrs Foster says.

She finishes with "a word of thanks for everyone who is working to keep us safe, including those in our blue light services", and to those who provide our food, work in the NHS and care for the vulnerable.

Next up is the eagerly-awaited statement from the first and deputy first ministers on the executive's plan to ease the lockdown in Northern Ireland.

First Minister Arlene Foster says updates have been provided since 7 April.

She says the statement is designed to update the members on the latest review of the restrictions "and our decision-making process for coming reviews"

Mrs Foster says the executive will be publishing its five-step plan "to aid recovery and renewal" later today.

"The economy minister is working on a further document dedicated to economic recovery," she adds.

The first minister says "the executive agreed that now is not the time to lift restrictions".

Image source, NI Assembly

"Our decisions must be based on what is happening here, taking account of our particular circumstances within the four-nations approach," Mrs Foster says.

And she says the executive will continue "to engage with our counterparts in the Irish Republic".

"We will move forward with care, step by step," the first minister adds.

The meeting is re-established and the Principal Deputy Speaker welcomes the first and deputy first minister to the chamber.

They are to outline a five-stage plan for easing lockdown restrictions in Northern Ireland.

For days, the parties have been holding detailed discussions about how and when some restrictions could be lifted.

Ministers have previously stressed that each step of the plan is said to be "incremental and cautious".

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, NI Assembly

The Principal Deputy Speaker, Christopher Stalford, tells members there will be a short break in the sitting to enable readjustments to be made to the chamber before the first and deputy first ministers make a statement about Covid-19.

The sitting will resume at 11:35.

Stay with us until then.

Nichola Mallon, the Infrastructure Minister, wraps on the motion.

She says she accepts the time delay issue raised by members.

The minister says the move will make exercise more accessible, adding “this is the start of the process”.

“The advantage of the e-bikes she says is that they can be used for longer journeys,” she adds.

Ms Mallon says she “whole-heartedly” agrees with members about reducing air pollution and traffic congestion.

Image source, NI Assembly

Responding to issues raised by Harry Harvey, the minister says "there is no age limit, you have be aged 14 and over, and the plate has to say the power of the bike.

"The maximum speed of the vehicle is 15mph" and, she adds it is not able to go beyond this speed.

Ms Mallon adds that there is work needed across various departments, councils and communities.

"This journey was started by Danny Kennedy," says the minister - paying tribute to the former UUP Infrastructure minister.

She concludes by saying "we're going to a new normal, where active travel will play a role in that".

The Principal Deputy Speaker asks members to take an oral vote on the regulations and they are passed unanimously.

Chris Lyttle, the chair of the all party group on cycling, says he welcomes the regulations.

He says the delay to the introduction was due to more than just the collapse of the executive.

He also says it’s “regrettable” that it’s taken a global pandemic to highlight the issue.

Image source, Getty Images

The Green Party’s Rachel Woods says “it’s about 25 years too late” but that she welcomes the regulations.

She says she hopes there will be letters sent out to suppliers who stock e-bikes about the regulations.

Ms Woods also reiterates the important of supporting the greenway scheme.

Andrew Muir of Alliance also welcomes the regulations

He says e-bikes are “an important cog in the active travel wheel”.

“More people will cycle if bikes are affordable,” says the MLA, adding this will also happen if people “have cycle lanes” and “have somewhere secure to store their bike when they reach their destination”.

Martina Anderson of Sinn Féin says it’s important to encourage more people to cycle, and that e-bikes are one way to do that

She says “we need to adapt a better and healthier way to get around and I think e-bikes will contribute to that”.

Image source, Getty Images

Matthew O’Toole of the SDLP says “one of the lessons of Covid-19” is that it has “made us reexamine how we live, how we work, and the things that we value”.

He also commends the committee for their work to ensure the statutory change came to the assembly so quickly.

Liz Kimmins of Sinn Féin says “this will reduce congestion on our roads” adding it will “get people out of cars and onto bikes”.

Harry Harvey of the DUP says the legislation requires a visible tag and asks “if this is part of the frame, or just a label on the motor to prove its legality”.

He also asks if there is an “age restriction to ride one of these cycles”.

Michelle McIlveen, the chair of the Infrastructure committee, is the first MLA invited to comment on the regulations.

She says the committee is pleased to approve the statutory rule.

In her role as a DUP MLA she says she "welcomes legislation being brought to the house today".

Sinn Féin's Cathal Boylan says cycling he too supports the regulations, adding that is it "welcome to see people out" on their bikes at the minute, "and if we’re serious about a shift and serious change about tackling air pollution and everything else, this is the start of the process".

Image source, Getty Images

The SDLP's Dolores Kelly also welcomes the regulations on behalf of her party and says that she hopes the department's new cycling champion is "empowered and enabled to campaign ferociously for councils and planning departments to take on board the needs of cycles and e-bike users in particular and putting regeneration monies into our towns".

Roy Beggs of the UUP says the regulations are "badly overdue", adding it is "ridiculous this was not in place some time ago".

The Deputy Principal Speaker, Christopher Stalford runs through some general business before welcoming the Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon to move the motion on Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations.

Ms Mallon says the regulations will bring NI in line with other areas as it is currently the "only region that requires this type of electric bike to be registered, licensed and insured as a motor vehicle", which she adds is due to "powers contained under road traffic order 1995".

Image source, Getty Images

She says the bikes, more commonly referred to as e-bikes, have assistance in the form of a motor while pedalling.

She says while cyclists are "legally not required to wear a safety helmet" the "clear advice is whatever sort of bike you’re on, you should always wear a helmet".

Welcome to Tuesday’s live coverage of the Northern Ireland Assembly from Stormont.

This morning we have a full plenary meeting of the assembly.

The first and deputy first ministers are announcing their five-stage plan for easing lockdown restrictions in Northern Ireland.

Do stay with us for this vitally important session.