Two years to the day that the DUP withdrew from the NI Executive, it's back. Following a sitting of the NI Assembly today, a Speaker and Deputy Speakers were elected, with Ministers appointed to all Executive departments.
Key developments
- Despite much speculation, the UUP opted on Friday to take up its Executive seat rather that joining the SDLP in opposition;
- The Alliance Party also took up their Executive seats;
- Edwin Poots MLA (DUP) was elected as Speaker of the Assembly;
- John Blair MLA (Alliance), Steve Aiken MLA (UUP) and Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin) were elected as Deputy Speakers;
- Matthew O'Toole MLA (SDLP) was officially confirmed as Leader of the Opposition;
- Committee Chair and Deputy Chair positions, as well as membership of Committees, are due to be filled at the beginning of next week.
It's not the Executive many expected as the DUP selected Education first instead of Finance...
- Sinn Féin get Economy and Finance Departments along with Infrastructure - that's a line up of Conor Murphy, Caoimhe Archibald and John O'Dowd;
- The DUP have Communities and Education - Gordon Lyons and Paul Givan respectively;
- Alliance Party leader Naomi Long heads to Justice again and Andrew Muir is now Minister for Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs;
- The UUP's Robin Swann returns to Health.
