New Stormont ministers announced
- Published
Ministers were announced at the assembly on Monday
Northern Ireland's main parties have announced the names of the ministers in the new NI Assembly.
The DUP's Edwin Poots will be health minister, Sammy Wilson will lead finance, Arlene Foster will be enterprise minister and Nelson McCausland social development minister.
Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd takes on education, Michelle O'Neill agriculture and Caral Ni Chuilin, culture.
Alex Attwood, SDLP, is the new environment minister.
Ulster Unionist Danny Kennedy will be minister for regional development.
Stephen Farry, Alliance Party, is the new minister for employment and learning and his party leader David Ford remains as justice minister.
The DUP nominated Paul Givan for the justice post, however, this was defeated in a vote in the assembly chamber.
Jonathon Bell, DUP, and Martina Anderson, Sinn Fein, are the two new junior ministers.
The DUP also announced that in two years' time, Simon Hamilton will take on the finance portfolio and Jim Wells will take over the health post.
Speaking to BBC Newsline on Monday afternoon, Mr Poots said he would review his predecessor Michael McGimpsey's decision not to proceed with a radiotherapy centre at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry.
"Everything is on the table, nothing is off the table," he said.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said his Sinn Fein colleague John O'Dowd - the new education minister - would "look at all issues, meet all stakeholders, and decide what is the best way forward".
However, he added that education "is going to undergo much needed change in the coming period".
The SDLP's Mr Attwood said he was delighted to accept the environment portfolio.
"Local government, planning, the environment and road safety afford real opportunities to make Northern Ireland a better place to live, work and invest," he said.
Ulster Unionist Mr Kennedy said he was "honoured and humbled" at his appointment as regional development minister.
"I will urgently review the DRD policy set by the previous Sinn Fein minister, who planned to introduce new car-parking charges for towns and villages throughout Northern Ireland," he said.
Mr Farry said he saw his the role at department of employment and learning as helping Northern Ireland's economic regeneration.