The Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont is scheduled to reconvene at 1pm on Saturday for the first time in two years, marking a significant moment in the region's governance. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has ended its boycott, allowing for the election of a new Speaker and the formation of a new devolved government. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson of the DUP has indicated that the Assembly and Executive are now able to be re-established. Edwin Poots of the DUP has been elected as Speaker, and Sinn Fรฉin's Michelle O'Neill is making history as the first nationalist First Minister of Northern Ireland, with Emma Little-Pengelly of the DUP as the deputy First Minister. The restoration of the Assembly and Executive has been welcomed by politicians and commentators as a positive step for Northern Ireland, with the potential to unlock public sector pay and address challenges in health services and other areas. The Stormont Brake mechanism has been made into law, providing the Assembly with a democratic safeguard.
It is a historic day in Northern Ireland as the Assembly sits once more to determine its own future. I trust that this next chapter will restore hope and determine lasting peace, as well as address the needs of the people and communities of Northern Ireland.
Congratulations to Edwin Poots, Speaker of the NI Assembly, and to all the Ministers and MLAs as Stormont returns today. @niassembly https://t.co/HPIO0qtSD4
The new deputy First Minister @little_pengelly makes her first speech in the Assembly Chamber. https://t.co/LyhUdCBYZm
I would like to offer my congratulations to Michelle OโNeill and Emma Little-Pengelly on their appointment as First Minister and Deputy First Minister. I wish them, and all the members of the Executive, well as they take on their new responsibilities.
I want to congratulate Michelle OโNeill and Emma Little-Pengelly on assuming their roles as First Minister and deputy First Minister. Look forward to working with them. https://t.co/NkagBmElJZ
The new First Minister @moneillsf making her first speech in the Assembly Chamber. https://t.co/O8U67tIVsW
For the first time, an Irish nationalist is set to lead Northern Ireland's government https://t.co/pdxmQ9zGQs
Very good speech by @moneillsf now being followed by another vg speech by @little_pengelly โฆ both with lots of women behind them on the benches. Michelle OโNeill as the first Republican First Minister is genuinely historic. Having women as FM and Deputy FM likewise. Today 1/2
Emma Little-Pengelly MLA of the DUP has been nominated and has accepted the position of deputy First Minister. https://t.co/rmOkEKNRty
Stormont reconvenes after two years as Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill to become first minister https://t.co/Qsvux9laWo
Really good to see the N Ireland Assembly representatives back in the chamber at Stormont.
BREAKING: Edwin Poots is elected as Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly Sky's @skydavidblevins says 'Edwin Poots and Sir Jeffrey Donaldson were political rivals, so we may be witnessing the healing of old wounds'. https://t.co/ILUPgwVsrw ๐บ Sky 501 and YouTube https://t.co/gTpRTR9sUb
#BREAKING N.Ireland lawmakers restore power-sharing assembly after two-year hiatus https://t.co/Xz8rm9UXWM
#Breaking Former DUP leader Edwin Poots has been elected Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly https://t.co/ss7qN1lM6i
NEW: Northern Ireland Assembly elects former DUP leader Edwin Poots as Speaker. Election of Speaker means a First and Deputy First Minister can be chosen and Stormont can resume.
This is a moment of huge democratic significance for Northern Ireland. It is two years to the day since power-sharing collapsed, and nearly 21 months since MLAs were elected. Today they will be able to return to the Assembly and establish an Executive.
โHistoric dayโ as devolved government returns in Northern Ireland | ITV News https://t.co/Q8ccoTZ2Zz
"We look to our future. A future that I believe can be one where Northern Ireland prospers. Where NI is stable and at peace with itself." DUP Leader @J_Donaldson_MP speaks at Stormont as a power-sharing govt will return to Northern Ireland https://t.co/2Q2MyxnPgY ๐บ Sky 501 https://t.co/TyZ4QEXzUA
Northern Ireland government to reconvene after two-year DUP boycott https://t.co/ISjHp6lyZ8
Standby! Stormont is back! And we will be on air in a few minutes on BBC One Ni & News Channel Weโll bring you all key moments - live @MarkCarruthers7 @BBCNewsNI https://t.co/AfphbhmXof
NI Assembly to elect new first minister as Stormont returns Live updates: https://t.co/pjqKJbXvS0 https://t.co/jaS9yMqnhK
The return of power-sharing at Stormont is good news. We still have different views on the constitutional future of Northern Ireland, and that debate will of course continue. But when Nationalists and Unionists want to make the place work - together - then everyone benefits. https://t.co/e0ZnIS7X4m
BBC News NI has all your Stormont restoration needs covered. We'll be streaming proceedings live on our website, Talkback has a special programme on @BBCRadioUlster and on @BBCOneNI @BBCTheView will guide you through the afternoon https://t.co/KirLUCv8cp https://t.co/CV7PwY3xsG
Northern Ireland gets a working government for the first time in two years, and a historic First Minister https://t.co/XpUWABDBhz
Follow all the developments on the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland on the @BBCNews Live Page here: https://t.co/M7YgGP9XB5
โก LIVE PAGE โก The Northern Ireland Assembly is due to sit this afternoon to elect a speaker and appoint minister to an executive. You can follow all the latest developments and reaction to events at Stormont here on the BBC News NI live page ๐ https://t.co/L2bNwmpJWe https://t.co/3Vx6XVjKTs
Northern Ireland government to be restored two years after collapse https://t.co/llMcLe6chR
Powersharing to return in NI with Michelle OโNeill as first minister https://t.co/CsPuyhewCR
Northern Ireland to elect first Irish nationalist First Minister https://t.co/DE5Hli0fAl https://t.co/Tq8asuAv2q
In a change to our regular schedule, a Talkback Stormont Special will air 12.30pm today with live coverage of the restoration of Stormont. The Missing Madonna is now 12pm Sportsound @ 2.30pm & you can hear the Long and Short of It at 6.30pm on Sunday. https://t.co/nMi7daSsH5
A day of huge significance and symbolism in Northern Ireland. If you've come from there, live there or been there you've seen the potential of this part of the UK. Let's hope the constituency of peace and reconciliation David Trimble spoke of in his Nobel acceptable speech wins. https://t.co/TaaFeY3lwU
Who is Michelle O'Neill, as Stormont is to return after two years | ITV News https://t.co/3eMfLjZuSe
Devolved government will return in Northern Ireland, with Sinn Feinโs @moneillsf making history as the first nationalist first minister โ๏ธ: Jonathan McCambridge https://t.co/R3i6CuyQVM
Northern Ireland assembly returns with first Sinn Fein leader https://t.co/J19YKM7wgw via @jenniduggan @livfletcher_ https://t.co/FrsJL6ajNY
In the 4.5 years I chaired Westminsterโs NI Committee my affection for NI & her people only grew. Today is an important day in NIโs history. I want to wish all MLAs the best of luck. So much needs doing for NIโs communities. Today, a new chapter begins. Itโs what the people want
Northern Ireland will have a working government and assembly for the first time in two years, with an Irish nationalist First Minister https://t.co/WsurIK55qt
๐๐๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ : ๐ฆ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ผ๐บ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น Live coverage of Stormontโs return. ๐Saturday โฐ 1.15pm ๐บ BBC One NI & @BBCiPlayer @MarkCarruthers7 with @markdevenport @SuzyJourno @dmcbfs @JonTonge @chrisadonnelly @LeeReynoldsUKNI https://t.co/UYijxfpJwM
๐ข Northern Ireland gets first Sinn Fein leader โ but functioning Stormont could prevent reunification https://t.co/zgAM4vUyO7
'History in the making': Why NI's new first minister is hugely symbolic Read more ๐ https://t.co/epMdSx0Bk4
Stormont prepares to reconvene with regionโs first nationalist leader https://t.co/ggGtjaVHyf via @ft
Northern Ireland lawmakers are set to elect an Irish nationalist First Minister for the first time, placing a member of the former political wing of the IRA in charge. https://t.co/jMqqHDo2MA
Northern Ireland to elect Irish nationalist First Minister in historic shift https://t.co/kUmQ2eZJ8v https://t.co/uirEyDVT26
Pleased to make into law the Stormont Brake mechanism โ giving the Northern Ireland Assembly a powerful democratic safeguard. https://t.co/Yahg2Dqwbl
The Northern Ireland Assembly is set to return for the first time in two years on Saturday as politicians get back to work at Stormont. Follow the latest developments live with BBC News NI online ๐ฒ, on radio ๐๏ธ and on TV ๐บ https://t.co/HXFuuKkqZe
๐จ #๐๐๐๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ : ๐ฆ๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ก๐ง ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ We'll be on air on Saturday as Stormont returns and a new Executive is formed. Join @MarkCarruthers7 and guests - live on BBC One NI & @BBCiPlayer from 1.15pm. @BBCNewsNI @BBCnireland @BBCPolitics https://t.co/cFIcmAoAdw
Northern Ireland gets first Sinn Fein leader โ but functioning Stormont could prevent reunification https://t.co/rFkjvVtCb4
Sinn Fรฉin's Michelle O'Neill will be 'joint first minister', Jeffrey Donaldson suggests - https://t.co/OUPgySHApb
Last nightโs โฆ@bbctheviewโฉ is available on โฆ@BBCiPlayerโฉ โฆ@MarkCarruthers7โฉ is joined by reps from the five main Stormont parties ahead of the recall of the Assembly. Analysis โฆ@SuzyJournoโฉ โฆ@BenLowry2โฉ โฆ@dmcbfsโฉ https://t.co/nI311XT6RK
Northern Ireland party leaders and officials will meet on Friday to discuss the key issues for an incoming Stormont executive, ahead of the assembly sitting on Saturday. https://t.co/sSBDJrCTTn
Stormont: Party leaders to meet ahead of assembly sitting https://t.co/mTC6MIfrZs
"We are all united." @paulgivan tells @MarkCarruthers7 that the DUP is together on returning to Stormont and may use the "Stormont Brake" quite soon... https://t.co/g46qLyM3gu
Theyโll be back in the Assembly chamber on Saturday - and theyโre in studio tonight. @MarkCarruthers7 is joined by reps from the five main Stormont parties shortly. #BBCTheView | Live at 10.40pm ๐ดBBC One NI & @BBCiPlayer https://t.co/m8KXxbPoAX
#๐๐๐๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ : ๐ฆ๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ก๐ง ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ We'll be on air on Saturday as Stormont returns and a new Executive is formed. Join @MarkCarruthers7 and guests - live on BBC One NI & @BBCiPlayer from 1.15pm. https://t.co/wOP2vgkq9h
The DUP has given the green light for the recall of the Stormont Assembly, with powersharing due to be restored in Northern Ireland on Saturday https://t.co/8UTmwOOdSm
Coming up tonight on @BBCTheView Does the DUP deal cut the mustard? And what happens next? @MarkCarruthers7 with Sinn Fรฉin's @johnfinucane DUP's @paulgivan Alliance's @AndrewMuirNI UUP @BeattieDoug SDLP @MatthewOToole2 Plus @SuzyJourno @BenLowry2 @dmcbfs โฐ10.40pm BBC One NI https://t.co/bGu4IuwkZE
The Democratic Unionist Partyโs decision to return to the Northern Ireland Assembly in Stormont is good news. But plenty in the province think that this is the last chance for devolution to show that it can work https://t.co/c4ef1qEPH3 ๐
๐จ NEW: Northern Ireland Assembly will sit at 1pm on Saturday to elect a Speaker and new devolved government
This is an important development and the reestablishment of the NI assembly is a significant achievement. https://t.co/6bEbyW0ngL
So pleased that @J_Donaldson_MP has now written to the speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly so an executive can be formed. This is excellent news that will unlock public sector pay & start dealing with the day to day challenges in the health service and beyond. https://t.co/raOXa8Ba9V
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says the Northern Ireland assembly is expected to meet on Saturday to elect a new speaker. โWe are now able to re-establish the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Northern Ireland Executive.โ
Stormont: Assembly to sit on Saturday as DUP boycott ends https://t.co/lEd5beZk9P
โญ Northern Ireland is in an ideal place to become a beacon of global prosperity . ๐ I welcome the measures laid today and urge NI politicians to grasp the opportunity which is now before them https://t.co/PjyXkMU1Xw