Chris Lyttle, the chairman of the Education Committee, asks about post-primary academic selection.

The Alliance MLA says it’s “clearly not possible for tests to take place this year”.

The minister says he is happy to look at any suggestions which are put forward.

“There is no easy way of doing academic selection without some form of test,” adds Peter Weir.

“I want children to have the opportunity to apply and indeed have a fair chance of getting a place at the school that they want.”

Image source, NI Assembly

Turning to GCSE, AS and A-level pupils, Mr Lyttle asks the minister what alternative grading measures will be implemented.

Peter Weir says CCEA has been working on contingency arrangements and that plans will be made available when they are ready.

The Department of Health has recorded 13 more coronavirus-related deaths in Northern Ireland.

Nine of those deaths were within the past 24 hours.

The department also recorded 1,985 new cases, bringing the total to 83,236 since the pandemic began.

Education Minister Peter Weir outlines the decision made by the executive during yesterday’s meeting around remote learning.

These include:

• all mainstream education providers are required to provide remote learning at home to their pupils rather than face-to-face teaching in school until the half term break in mid-February
• vulnerable children and children of key workers will have access to schools for supervised learning
• remote learning will last no longer than necessary and will remain under review by the executive
• special schools will remain open as usual

Image source, NI Assembly

Peter Weir adds these the decision to move to remote learning “does not suggest that schools are no longer safe places for young people”.

He says, “limiting attendance is about reducing the number of contacts that all of us have with people in other households”.

Image source, NI Assembly

MLA Jim Allister asks if the first minister recognises that the loss of 2,000 hospital beds since 2007 has contributed to the current strain on the health system.

The TUV leader adds: "When this is over will we begin to correct that and put things back to where they need to be?"

Arlene Foster says the health minister would "absolutely" agree that the removal of beds and staff from the health service has added to the pressures.

She adds: "We had started a programme of transformation and reform and unfortunately given what has happened this past year we haven’t been able to proceed.

"We need to invest in our health service but also to have the transformation and reform agenda which is there."

Have arrangements for funerals changed? That's a question posed by Green Party MLA Rachel Woods.

Arlene Foster responds that “they remain as they were”.

Twenty-five people can attend, says the first minister, adding that there is an awareness that this can be “restrictive” for large families.

Image source, Getty Images

In a supplementary question, Ms Woods asks if takeaways remain open as they are now?

Yes, responds Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill.

Image source, NI Assembly

Mark Durkan of the SDLP asked what the executive intends to do, to support students in NI studying elsewhere, who are being charged "extortionate fees" for education that they "aren't fully receiving".

Mr Durkan says the situation is "unfair" and asked about those students being charged for accommodation they are not using.

In response, the deputy first minister says she accepts that the situation is "unfair and unjust" for students.

"I would also make a plea to the landlords to do the right thing.

"In the absence of us having the ability to stop them because of a legal contract, do the right thing in this scenario."

Ms O'Neill says the student hardship support scheme funding has been increased and said any students in financial difficulty should access it.

Image source, Pacemaker

All GCSE, AS and A-level examinations in Northern Ireland will not go ahead this year, Education Minister Peter Weir has confirmed.

He said they could not continue as planned with schools moving to remote learning until mid-February.

Some GCSE exams were due to take place next week.

The examinations scheduled for January, February and May and June will not go ahead.

It is not yet clear what alternative arrangements will be in place.

The news comes a day after transfer tests were cancelled in Northern Ireland. Hours later, a single Association for Quality Education (AQE) transfer test was scheduled for 27 February.

Speaking in the assembly on Wednesday, Mr Weir said his department had been "preparing for all eventualities".

"I now feel we have reached a point where, while I still believe examinations are the most appropriate and fairest awarding methodology, with a further six weeks of remote learning having to be imposed, we cannot continue with exams in the way that was planned," he said.

Here’s a brief summary of what you need to know from today’s statement by the first and deputy first ministers:

• Michelle O’Neill tells MLAs she hopes to “have the population vaccinated by summer”.

• “It’s important the police have the powers that they need to be able to enforce these regulations,” says Arlene Foster

• Support for businesses hit by the latest restrictions is something the executive is looking at

• Remotely learning will continue until mid-February, “which is not where we would like to be” says the first minister, but “unfortunately circumstances have shown us that that has to be the case”

• While the latest restrictions aren’t in place until Friday, Michelle O’Neill encourages the public to act as though they are already in place

Image source, NI Assembly

The first minister says she hopes for a "voluntary approach" for places of worship to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Asked by Alliance's Andrew Muir if churches will be forced to close, Arlene Foster says ministers will be talking to faith communities "if not today than certainly tomorrow".

"I would much prefer that we can deal with these issues in a voluntary nature recognising the very fundamental nature of being able to worship together.

"They [discussions] will take place very soon because we did give a commitment to our faith communities that we would collaborate with them and communicate with them in a partnership approach."

She notes the approach to places of worship differs across jurisdictions.

Image source, NI Assembly

Matthew O’Toole of the SDLP is up next.

He asks the first minister if her party is prioritising academic selection over public health.

Arlene Foster says Mr O’Toole is “wrong”, adding “that is simply not the case”.

The DUP leader adds “we’re trying to deal with a public health crisis and we’re trying to deal with this in a joined up way”.

Emma Sheerin of Sinn Féin asks the first and deputy first ministers to outline the executive’s decisions yesterday regarding new restrictions.

Arlene Foster outlines evidence which ministers were provided with before their meeting.

The DUP leader says teaching will take place remotely until mid-February, “which is certainly not where we would like to be but unfortunately circumstances have shown us that that has to be the case”.

Image source, PA Media

Ms Sheerin asks when will the regulations will come into effect.

From Friday, responds deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill, but she encourages people to act as though they are in force from now.

Mike Nesbitt of the Ulster Unionist Party asks about policing powers and if there has there been any engagement with the Police Federation by the executive's Covid task force.

Arlene Foster says the Executive Office has not engaged with the police federation and it is something for the justice minister to address.

Mrs Foster adds: "I know she has been keeping in touch with the police at the highest level, in and around all of these issues.

Image source, NI Assembly

"Obviously we should be concerned and take note of what the chairman of the Police Federation has said today.

"Can I take this opportunity to pay tribute to these police officers who have been dealing with these issues over the Christmas and new year period when some of us had time to recharge our batteries."

Image source, PA Media

Alliance’s Stewart Dickson asks about economic and social recovery, something he says that has been “a rocky road for us so far”.

Michelle O’Neill responds that there was a discussion at the executive about those groups that still haven’t received support.

“We’re looking at what do we have, and who can we target,” adds the deputy first minister.

First Minister Arlene Foster says the vaccines programmes are in their early phases and the number of people who have received jabs is very encouraging.

"While these programmes grow and expand it is necessary to put additional restrictions in place on the substantive steps we took last year and in December in particular," says Mrs Foster.

"We will be asking everyone to help us get through the next period of time by complying with the public health messaging and by adhering to the full range of restrictions because it is never mattered so much.

Image source, NI Assembly

"We're also asking schools, teachers, parents, children and the wider education community to take very difficult steps now.

"We have been there before and we have won, and we've made it a priority to avoid impacting on schools again unless it was absolutely vital to do so.

"Unfortunately its not possible to protect the health service and keep people safe without taking steps now with schools."

Trevor Clarke of the DUP is up next. He asks the ministers about house parties and what further powers can be given to the police.

Arlene Foster responds that “we understand that we are restrictions people’s freedoms” but says “we’re doing so to try to protect people”.

She says it’s “important the police have the powers that they need to be able to enforce these regulations”.

Image source, NI Assembly

The first minister adds this is something the justice minister will wish to address later.

The deputy first minister jumps in and says she and the first minister will be meeting with the chief constable of the PSNI in the near future.

"The health situation is grave and we believe we have taken difficult but essential decisions" says First Minister Arlene Foster.

"We have to make space for the health service to deal with the serious rise in case numbers and as always we pay tribute to everything that our health and social care colleagues are engaged with to keep us safe and to save lives.

She says the vaccine's programme "is well under way and we're looking forward to seeing the results in the coming weeks and months."

Image source, NI Assembly

"This is our way out of Covid-19 but we are not there yet," the first minister adds.

"The health minister will provide more information on this, but we wanted to say how grateful we are in the executive.

"To everyone who is taking part in the vaccination programme, to individuals who are taking the vaccines for all of the logistical arrangements and to colleagues in the department of health who are leading a major operation which will benefit us all".

Michelle O’Neill tells MLAs the rollout of the vaccination programme is “currently under way” and she hopes to “have the population vaccinated by summer”.

“We’re not out of the woods yet, and there certainly is more to do” says the deputy first minister.

Image source, Getty Images

Decisions taken this week will effect all of society, says Ms O’Neill and “have not been taken lightly”.

She pays tribute to those who have lost loved ones as a result of coronavirus.

“We’re in the midst of the biggest public health crisis in living memory,” says Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill.

“Our priorities remain unchanged: saving lives, protecting our health service from being overwhelmed and doing all that we can to reduce the spread of this deadly virus."

These priorities are “core to all of our work” says Ms O’Neill.

She explains that the executive has agreed to establish a Covid task force and outlines its work.

Image source, NI Assembly

"The escalation in positive Covid-19 cases poses a real threat to our health service," she adds.

"It’s imply not possible to protect the NHS and save lives without further significant restrictions."

"Doing nothing is not an option."

Alex Maskey, the Assembly speaker opens the meeting of the Ad Hoc Covid-19 Response Committee to the public.

He outlines that MLAs will hear from four ministers this afternoon, beginning with the first and deputy first ministers.

Image source, NI Assembly

It's now time for the Ad Hoc Covid-19 Response Committee.

Here's a brief overview of what you can expect to hear this afternoon.

Image source, NI Assembly