The Stormont Assembly has reconvened, three years after power-sharing collapsed.
Today's session opened with a vote for the new speaker, with Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey taking the role after receiving cross-community support.
His election and those of three deputy speakers meant the Assembly could begin carrying out its work again.
As the leader of the largest party, the DUP's Arlene Foster was nominated and reappointed as first minister.
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, meanwhile, has become deputy first minister - the joint head of the Northern Ireland Executive.
Addressing MLAs after being reappointed, Mrs Foster said: "To serve as the First Minister of Northern Ireland is deeply humbling, and brings with it enormous responsibility to the people that we represent.
"I pledge to work in a collegiate manner with all the parties across this chamber to ensure our public services are improved; that every citizen feels valued; and that we lay a solid foundation for the next generation."
Ms O'Neill, meanwhile, pledged to follow the example set by her late predecessor Martin McGuinness.
She said she hoped the parties work together 'united in determination' to deliver a stable power-sharing coalition.
Other ministers were also appointed to the Executive, with Alliance Party leader Naomi Long taking the justice portfolio.
You can see the full list of new ministers below:
- Arlene Foster, DUP - First Minister
- Michelle O'Neill, SF - Deputy First Minister
- Naomi Long, Alliance - Justice
- Diane Dodds, DUP - Economy
- Conor Murphy, SF - Finance
- Peter Weir, DUP - Education
- Nichola Mallon, SDLP - Infrastructure
- Deirdre Hargey, SF - Communities
- Robin Swann, UUP - Health
- Edwin Poots, DUP - Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Draft deal
Today's Saturday sitting comes after Sinn Féin, the DUP and the SDLP backed a draft deal to restore the institutions in Northern Ireland.
The proposals - dubbed 'New Decade, New Approach' - have been described by the Irish and British governments as being "fair and balanced" to all sides.
On Friday night, the Alliance Party also tweeted that they're prepared to back the deal.
Alliance’s Party Council has met to discuss #NewDecadeNewApproach.
We believe though imperfect, perfect cannot be the enemy of good.
It offers an opportunity to restore devolution & if implemented with goodwill and genuine commitment to power-sharing, can deliver for NI
1/2— Alliance Party (@allianceparty) January 10, 2020
The party said: "[The deal] is, for us, a compromise. That is also true for every other party.
"It is lack of compromise that has allowed our public services to decline and our people to suffer.
"Only an honorable compromise offers any hope of addressing those challenges. The work starts here."
'History being made'
The Executive collapsed in early 2017 after a row over a botched renewable energy scheme - with negotiations to restore power-sharing repeatedly stalling in the years since.
The British government had warned that fresh Assembly elections would be called if an agreement to restore the institutions wasn't reached ahead of a deadline this coming Monday.
As the Northern Ireland parties announced their decisions to back the new deal yesterday, Tánaiste Simon Coveney suggested 'history was being made'.
He also said the murder of journalist Lyra McKee last year brought a sense of urgency to the political impasse in the North.
He said: "I spoke to Lyra's sister this morning, who I think was really relieved and excited about the prospect of a functioning Stormont again - which I think tells you a lot about the kind of family they are and the kind of person she is."
The UK's Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith, meanwhile, wished the leaders of the five main parties 'good luck' ahead of today's sitting:
To @DUPleader , @moneillsf, @columeastwood , @naomi_long , @SteveAikenUUP. Well done & good luck! pic.twitter.com/CfKPlUEIVu
— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) January 11, 2020
Ongoing strikes by health workers in the region had added pressure on politicians to return to Stormont.
