Emma Little-Pengelly lists some of the issues she hopes the executive can tackle, highlighting issues she believes both she and Michelle O'Neill can agree on.

"Our hospitals need fixed," she said.

"We can agree that too many mummies and some daddies are having to give up work because childcare is too expensive."

She says they can agree that teachers need supported, public sector workers need "properly paid, and that the police need the resources to "put the [drug] dealers out of business".

Enda McClafferty
BBC News NI political editor

Who will likely be the key appointments round the executive table in Northern Ireland?

Michelle O'Neill has taken up the position of Northern Ireland's first minister, with the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly taking up the role of deputy first minister.

Beyond that the big focus will be on the Justice portfolio, which is a cross-community vote and sits outside the D'hondt process, which I understand will see Alliance leader Naomi Long be returned as justice minister.

Sin Féin's Conor Murphy will likely take up the economy portfolio and we expect DUP's Gordon Lyons to take control of the finance portfolio - the person in charge of the purse strings.

We also understand Sinn Féin's Caoimhe Archibald will be installed as education minister.

The DUP's Paul Givan is also tipped to take over as the communities minister.

While the UUP's Robin Swan is expected to return as health minister today.

There is also speculation that agriculture minister looks to be going to Alliance's Andrew Muir.

Emma Little-Pengelly says the challenges that families in Northern Ireland face are the same.

"It is those shared problems that are blighting too many lives, that we can work constructively, urgently together to improve," she adds.

"We must learn the lessons of the last seven years, whatever path we are going to take."

She says the path to a prosperous future can only be through walking that path together.

Image source, PA

Emma Little-Pengelly says like "many in this chamber" she "grew up with conflict".

She recalls as a child experiencing the aftermath of and IRA bomb.

She says at just 11 she did not understand the politics but says she "will never forget the fear, the hurt and the anger "

She adds that she is glad that young people growing up in Northern Ireland today "do not have to face that terror".

She says she will do all she can to ensure a better future for Northern Ireland.

Emma Little-Pengelly of the DUP is the new deputy first minister.

She congratulates Michelle O'Neill on becoming the first minister and says she will be diligent.

She says there is an opportunity to shape Northern Ireland for the better and that NI has incredible potential.

Michelle O'Neill finishes her first speech in the newly formed Northern Ireland Assembly referencing the Good Friday Agreement.

She says: "1998 opened a new horizon of hope and optimism.

"Now in 2024, lets gift to today's generation all that they deserve."

Michelle O'Neill now makes reference to the Troubles - the 30 years of sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland.

"I am sorry for all the lives lost during the conflict. Without exception," she says.

The new first minister tells the chamber that "injustices and tragedies" of the past continue to have an impact.

She says she's wholeheartedly committed to reconciliation.

"The past cannot be changed or undone.

"But what we can do is build a better future".

Image source, PA

Michelle O'Neill outlines her republican credentials but offers assurances to those of a different political persuasion.

She says: "To all of you who are British, unionist; Your national identity, culture and traditions are important to me."

The Sinn Féin MLA says she will be "inclusive and respectful".

"None of us are being asked or expected to surrender who we are"

Key infrastructure developments like the A5, A 29 will be delivered, according to O'Neill.

She also says that the re-development of Casement Park - a west Belfast GAA ground earmarked as a venue for the 2028 euros, is among the "key signature" projects that will also happen.

O'Neill highlights the need to work to protect the environment.

"We must protect Lough Neagh and realise it's massive potential".

More must be done to tackle violence against women and girls which O'Neill says is at "epidemic" levels.

She says the assembly should tackle misogyny and the sexist attitudes that exist in society.

"We need women and girls to know that we have their backs," she says.

O'Neill highlights her stance as an Irish republican but pledges "co-operation and genuine and honest effort" with those of a British or unionist tradition,

"This is an assembly for all – Catholic, Protestant and dissenter," she says.

She also says assembly members must build the trust and confidence of the public

Pledging to work with all assembly members, O'Neill says that it is up to them to "create hope and opportunity".

She urges respect.

"The days of second-class citizenship are long gone," O'Neill says.

"Today confirms that they are never coming back."

O'Neill says she is "delighted to see every elected assembly member back in the chamber at Stormont.

She singles out the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) for ending its two year boycott.

O'Neill says the outcome of the 2022 Assembly election is "now being respected".

Michelle O'Neill has started her first speech as first minister in the newly restored Stormont Assembly.

She says today "opens the door to the future".

The Sinn Féin assembly member says she is honoured to stand in the chamber as first minister.

"We mark a moment of equality and progress. A new opportunity to work and grow together."

Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill becomes the first nationalist first minister of Northern Ireland.

Image source, PA Media

The DUP have nominated the Lagan Valley MLA Emma Little-Pengelly for deputy first minister.

She was co-opted to the seat after Sir Jeffrey Donaldson stood down shortly after the election.

Image source, PA Media

Rising to nominate his Sinn Féin colleague Carál Ní Chuilín for the role of deputy speaker, Gerry Kelly has misspoken and accidentally nominated her for the role of "deputy chief constable".

The assembly chamber erupts in laughter at this slip of the tongue, which is perhaps explained by Mr Kelly's role on the Policing Board during a recently tumultuous time for the PSNI leadership.

The SDLP's Matthew O'Toole notes that the SDLP did not vote for Mr Poots as speaker, but congratulates him in his appointment to the post.

He notes that it looks the SDLP will be the only party in opposition, and asks that the speaker give their party "a fair crack of the whip" because "there is eight of us'ns and 80 of them'uns".

TUV leader Jim Allister wishes Edwin Poots well in the role of speaker, but says he will be a "thorn in the side" of the "protocol implementers".

He adds that he may test the new speaker's patience and impartiality, but that he should remember "it was 1,000 TUV transfers" that got Edwin Poots "elected on the fifth count in south Belfast".

Former DUP leader Edwin Poots has been appointed Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

He is replacing Sinn Féin’s Alex Maskey who was elected to the position in January 2020.

Mr Poots has been in frontline politics for almost three decades and his father was one of the DUP's founding members. A former councillor in Lisburn, he was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for the first time in 1998.

It was then he first came to prominence when he opposed the signing of the Good Friday peace agreement.

After the DUP and Sinn Féin agreed to share power together and formed a government in 2007, Mr Poots was appointed as culture and arts minister in the executive.

It would be the first of a number of ministerial briefs he has held during his political career.

He made no secret of having a long-running ambition to lead the DUP, which he did back in 2021– for a mere 21 days – more on that here.