Stormont’s first nationalist First Minister Michelle O’Neill has pledged to work with unionists to build a better future for Northern Ireland.
The appointment of the Sinn Fein vice president provided a moment of history on the day the powersharing institutions returned after a two-year hiatus.
DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly was nominated as deputy First Minister.
Taking up the post, she said she and Ms. O’Neill come from “very different backgrounds,” but for her part she will work “tirelessly to ensure that we can deliver for all in Northern Ireland.”
In her speech to the reconvened Assembly, Ms. O’Neill said: “Today opens the door to the future—a shared future.
“I am honoured to stand here as First Minister.”
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris described it as a “great day for Northern Ireland.”
He told the assembled media he is confident that devolved government in Northern Ireland is “sustainable in the very long term.”
The two top jobs in the ministerial executive wield equal power and responsibility, but the elevation of a republican to the office of first minister, by virtue of Sinn Fein becoming the region’s largest political party in the 2022 Assembly election, is undoubtedly a significant symbolic moment for Northern Ireland.
The sitting started with the election of former DUP leader Edwin Poots as Speaker, a move which allowed the rest of the business to proceed.
Following the nomination of Ms. O’Neill and Ms. Little-Pengelly, Alliance leader Naomi Long was confirmed as returning to serve as justice minister.
The remaining ministerial portfolios were decided by the D’Hondt process based on party strengths.
As the largest party, Sinn Fein had the first nomination, and put forward Conor Murphy as minister for the economy before the DUP nominated Paul Givan as education minister.
Proceedings were briefly halted after Sinn Fein asked for an adjournment before making their next nomination, believed to be after the DUP did not take the department of finance as expected.
Sinn Fein then nominated Caoimhe Archibald as minister for finance before the DUP nominated Gordon Lyons as minister for communities.
The UUP nominated Robin Swann to return as health minister.
The nominations concluded with Sinn Fein selecting John O’Dowd as minister for infrastructure, and Alliance put forward Andrew Muir as minister for agriculture, environment and rural affairs.
The final ministers to be announced were Aisling Reilly (Sinn Fein) and Pam Cameron (DUP), who will serve as junior ministers in the Executive Office completing an all-female line up alongside Ms O’Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly.
Meanwhile SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole was confirmed as leader of the official opposition.
The DUP, the largest unionist party in the region, agreed to the recall of the political institutions on the back of its deal on post-Brexit trade with the UK government, which party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says has effectively removed the so-called Irish Sea trading border on goods remaining within the UK.
On Thursday, the government fast-tracked two pieces of legislation contained in the agreement through the House of Commons, opening the way for the Assembly to return on Saturday.
Addressing the chamber after her appointment was confirmed and she affirmed the pledge of office, Ms. O’Neill said the restoration of the institutions marked a “moment of equality and progress.”
She said the public were relying on each MLA to act in their best interests and to serve “our whole community” in good faith, and urged MLAs to be “respectful of each other.”
“As an Irish republican I pledge co-operation and genuine honest effort with those colleagues who are British, of a unionist tradition and who cherish the Union,“ she said. ”This is an assembly for all—Catholic, Protestant and dissenter.
“Despite our different outlooks and views on the future constitutional position, the public rightly demands that we co-operate, deliver and work together,” she said.
“We must build trust and confidence in our ability to do that.”
Commenting on the legacy of the Troubles, Ms. O’Neill said she’s “wholeheartedly committed to continuing the work of reconciliation.”
Ms. Little-Pengelly said she recognised that for many, it is a “historic moment.”
She said there must be no dominating from any side to another, calling for a “new approach of recognising the concerns of each other and finding solutions together.”
