By Brendan Hughes & Matt Fox for BBC Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland's First Minister designate Michelle O'Neill arrives at Parliament on 3 February. Photo: Paul Faith / AFP
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill has made history after she was appointed Northern Ireland's first nationalist first minister.
The DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly has been appointed deputy first minister.
The return of power-sharing follows the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) ending its boycott over post-Brexit trade rules.
O'Neill told the assembly chamber it was "a historic day" which represented "a new dawn".
Northern Ireland's devolved government was restored on Saturday - two years to the day since it collapsed.
The DUP had boycotted devolved government for two years over post-Brexit checks on goods going between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
But, after striking a fresh deal with the government, they agreed to go back into power sharing.
Under power-sharing rules, devolved government in Northern Ireland can only operate on a cross-community basis with the involvement of both unionists and nationalists.
Similar to the cabinet at Westminster, the Northern Ireland Executive is the decision-making body for Northern Ireland and has powers to legislate on many areas.
After O'Neill and Little-Pengelly were nominated as first and deputy first ministers, the following took up roles as ministers in the executive:
- Justice Minister: Naomi Long, Alliance
- Economy Minister: Conor Murphy, Sinn Féin
- Education Minister: Paul Givan, DUP
- Communities Minister: Gordon Lyons, DUP
- Health Minister: Robin Swann, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)
- Infrastructure Minister: John O'Dowd, Sinn Féin
- Finance Minister: Caoimhe Archibald, Sinn Féin
- Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister: Andrew Muir, Alliance
Sinn Féin's Aisling Reilly and the DUP's Pam Cameron will serve as junior ministers in the executive office.
The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) - the fifth-largest party in the assembly, with eight assembly members - did not qualify to be part of the executive and instead has gone into opposition.
The leader of the opposition, SDLP assembly member Matthew O'Toole, said the party wanted to make the institutions "work effectively for the people of Northern Ireland".
What did Michelle O'Neill say as first minister?
In the last assembly election in May 2022, Sinn Féin became the largest party at Stormont for the first time, entitling the party to nominate the first minister.
Although the first and deputy first ministers hold a joint office and have equal power, O'Neill becoming first minister is seen a landmark moment for Irish nationalism.
The prospect of a nationalist first minister "would have been unimaginable" to her parents' generation, O'Neill said after her appointment.
O'Neill also said she was "sorry for all the lives lost during the conflict - without exception".
"As first minister, I am wholeheartedly committed to continuing the work of reconciliation between all of our people."
She added that despite her support for a united Ireland, she would "serve everyone equally" and promised inclusivity and respect for all as they "deliver and work together" as the public "rightly demands".
"To all of you who are British and unionist - your national identity, culture and traditions are important to me," she added.
- This story was first published by the BBC.
