Northern Ireland's governing Executive meets for the first time in two years
First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly commit to work together in a joint news conference
Earlier, the UK and Irish PMs Rishi Sunak and Leo Varadkar visited Stormont to mark the return of power-sharing
It was Sunak's seventh visit as PM but the first in which Northern Ireland has a fully-functioning government
The Executive has written to Sunak calling for urgent talks on how NI is funded
It comes days after devolved government returned after the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) ended its two-year boycott
Image source, ReutersAfter a busy day full of meetings, press conferences and handshakes, we're wrapping up our live coverage.
You can catch up on the day's events here and on BBC Newsline on BBC One Northern Ireland at 18:30.
Thanks for joining us.
Image source, PA MediaWe'll be finishing our live coverage shortly after a busy day on the hill, but if you're just joining us here's a brief recap of what happened on Monday:
You can catch up on more of the days event here and on BBC Newsline on BBC One Northern Ireland at 18:30.
The new Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs minister tells Evening Extra that his lack of farming experience would not be a hindrance because he is a "worker".
Muir says the executive agrees with him that addressing issues around Lough Neagh must be a priority and that tackling climate change “should be about working together”.
Known for his bow ties, he also says he’s going to bring “fashion excellence” to the countryside as he says he did to the Assembly – and he’s been looking for fashionable wellie boots…
Andrew Muir speaks to BBC Evening Extra
Former agriculture minister turned Stormont Speaker Edwin Poots has wished his successor well.
He says the fact Alliance MLA Andrew Muir is not from an agricultural background will “make it much more difficult for him” and that he would “know very quickly” where he stands with the farming community.
Earlier Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said farmers were "custodians" of the environment and had nothing to fear from her party.
Image source, PA MediaAndrew Muir leaves Stormont Castle
Image source, ReutersUS President Joe Biden says he welcomes and strongly supports the restoration of Stormont.
During the president's trip to Belfast last April to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, he urged politicians to return to power-sharing.
After Saturday's sitting of the Assembly, Biden says it is an "important step" to ensure Northern Ireland is "defined by unlimited opportunity for all who call it home".
Quote Message"I look forward to seeing the renewed stability of a power-sharing government that strengthens the peace dividend, restores public services, and continues building on the immense progress of the last decades."
US Ambassador to the UK Jane Hartley calls the return of Stormont a "milestone and an important step forward".
First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly addressed the media in a joint news conference earlier.
They committed to working together and both said investment in public services was a priority.
Enda McClafferty
BBC News NI political editor
I think the first and deputy first ministers are going to be in a position whereby they are going to have to present that united front at every opportunity.
You got a real feel for that just now. Outside Stormont Castle we had Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly standing together.
You could see they were quite comfortable in each other's company whenever they were fielding the difficult questions, not least, of course, about the constitutional issue.
It was an interesting answer from Michelle O'Neill whenever she says 'look this is a matter for parties individually to talk about and deal with'.
Image source, PA MediaIn other words don't bring those problems to us when we are standing together trying to present this united front because that, in a sense, would create some sort of division.
So you got a sense then that they are probably not going to be 'chuckle sisters' but you got a feeling they are going to be the 'knuckle down sisters'.
The SDLP’s Justin McNulty was seen at Stormont again following his suspension from the party.
He attended the first sitting of the NI Assembly on Saturday but left before proceedings ended and missed his party colleague Matthew O'Toole being nominated as opposition leader.
It later emerged he had travelled by helicopter to County Wexford where his team, Laois, which he manages were playing a match.
Read more here.
Image source, PA MediaUlster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Doug Beattie says he’s "a decision to make’" over Robin Swann’s position as health minister.
Swann, who previously held the post during the Covid-19 pandemic, returns to the brief following a meeting of the Assembly on Saturday.
However, his decision to stand for South Antrim in the upcoming Westminster election has raised questions over whether he could do both roles.
Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback earlier, Beattie says he may have to look at options including withdrawing Swann from running for Westminster or preparing another candidate as health minister.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) says the money is available to settle pay claims across the public sector.
ICTU reps met the new Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald this afternoon.
Assistant Secretary Gerry Murphy says the minister "made clear" that public sector pay was an "immediate priority".
Image source, Charles McQuillanNipsa workers were among thousands to go on strike on 18 January
On 18 January, tens of thousands of public sector workers took part in one of the largest strikes ever held in Northern Ireland to call for a resolution to pay issues.
"We welcome the minister’s commitment to settle these disputes as quickly and comprehensively as possible," Murphy says.
He also adds that industrial action "will continue" until proposals "that workers can accept" are received from relevant departments.
BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra brings you extensive coverage and analysis as a busy day at Stormont continues with the Executive meeting taking place.
Click play at the top of this page to watch the programme, presented by Declan Harvey from the studio and Richard O'Reilly at Stormont.
A public transport strike which was provisionally scheduled for 15 February is being postponed by the trade unions Unite, GMB and Siptu.
Members have taken action on several dates in December and January as part of a dispute about pay which brought Northern Ireland's public transport system to a halt.
In a joint statement on Monday, the unions say in the absence of a "realistic offer" the next scheduled action by bus and rail workers will be for 72 hours, starting on a staggered basis from 27 to 29 February.
Image source, Getty ImagesSharon Graham from Unite says Stormont ministers had a "small window" to resolve the pay dispute, while Peter Macklin from GMB adds they want to give politicians and Translink "space" to reach a deal.
Niall McNally from Siptu says: “While we all welcome the restoration of the power-sharing institutions in Stormont, they need to deliver for workers and society."
Part of the UK government's £3.3bn Stormont funding offer is to help cover public sector pay issues.
More details here.
Chris Page
BBC News Ireland correspondent
Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly may have two very different views on the constitutional status of Northern Ireland, but today they are focusing on a big issue that they can agree on.
It is their jointly-held opinion that the Executive needs more money from the British government to reform public services and put public sector pay on a more sustainable footing.
Westminster says the £3.3bn funding package offered for the return of devolution is “fair and generous”, so it is going to be an ongoing negotiation.
The parties are calling for a longer-term financial settlement and the first and deputy first ministers made their arguments for that to Rishi Sunak this morning amid the congratulations and the handshakes.
There is a firm message being put to him and they are going to continue to press the UK government.
The ministers are making a point of bedding in and putting their political differences aside to unite on this issue, an issue that they feel will be to the benefit of the people in Northern Ireland.
Now that the British and Irish PMs have left Stormont, it's down to work for the Northern Ireland Executive.
Headed up by Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly, the ministers, from four different parties, are meeting at Stormont Castle.
Every department will have very important issues that need to be dealt with, according to the deputy first minister.
But Emma Little-Pengelly says resolution to those issues will only be found by "working constructively together".
"That's what we are up for," she says.
Little-Pengelly also says the public expects ministers to do their "best" to fix public services and to create a sustainable future.
She says: "We will be working together on a positive basis."
Asked whether she can be a first minister for all while also aiming to achieve a united Ireland, Michelle O'Neill emphasises that "today is a good day", adding that she and Emma Little-Pengelly are working together.
"There will be plenty of opportunity to talk about all the issues you want to put to us as individual political parties," she adds.
For today, she says, the parties have presented a united front in terms of finding a solution to Northern Ireland's financial challenges.
Emma Little-Pengelly highlights some of the issues to be discussed at the Executive meeting.
Challenges in special educational needs, Lough Neagh and childcare are likely to top the agenda.
"All these things require investment. We know that," she says.
"We do need to do reform but we do need to invest in our public services."
Little-Pengelly says investment in public services is needed and it's not an "unreasonable request" of the prime minister.
More funding is needed to deliver good public services, Michelle O'Neill says.
The offer of a £3.3bn financial package currently on the table "sounds good on the face of it" but there's more to be done, she stresses.
"We're working on the basis that we're going to be successful. We know we've got a lot of work to do but we need the Treasury to engage with us."
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly says she is conscious there are "big big issues" for the new Executive to tackle.
She says ministers need sufficient resources to be able to deliver.
Little-Pengelly says she and First Minister Michelle O'Neill raised the issue of finances with the prime minister during a meeting earlier.
The Executive needs the "right tools to do what it needs to do", she continues.
Little-Pengelly also says they will work constructively, adding: "We are up for the challenge."
First Minister Michelle O'Neill says it has been a busy but good morning.
She adds that the parties are “committed to working together” as the Executive holds its first meeting.
Discussions today with the visits of Rishi Sunak and Leo Varadkar majored on the issue of finances and the resourcing of public services, she says, adding there were also discussions about north-south co-operation.
