Sinn Féin Vice President Michelle O'Neill has become the first nationalist First Minister in Northern Ireland's history.
O'Neill was appointed First Minister on Saturday, almost two years since Sinn Féin became the largest party in Northern Ireland in a historic election in May 2022.
Speaking on Saturday, O'Neill described the return of the Stormont Assembly and Executive after an almost two-year hiatus due to a DUP boycott as a day that "opens the door to the future - a shared future."
"I am honored to stand here as First Minister," O'Neill told Northern Ireland's MLAs on Saturday.
"We mark a moment of equality and progress, a new opportunity to work and to grow together, confident that wherever we come from, whatever our aspirations, we can and must build our future together.
"I welcome the fact that the DUP has decided to re-enter the democratic institutions and that the outcome of the Assembly election is now being respected."
The DUP boycotted power-sharing for almost two years in protest over post-Brexit trade agreements, stating that the Northern Ireland Protocol threatened Northern Ireland's position within the UK.
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson confirmed the end of the boycott on Thursday after legislation passed in the House of Commons removing routine checks on British golds being sold to consumers in Northern Ireland.
Speaking as the first nationalist First Minister, O'Neill said unionist identity in Northern Ireland was important to her and added that she will be "inclusive and respectful" during her time in office.
"To all of you who are British, unionist; Your national identity, culture, and traditions are important to me."
O'Neill said the days of "second-class citizenship" in Northern Ireland are gone, adding that her appointment as First Minister confirms that they are "never coming back".
Emma Little-Pengelly of the DUP has been named Deputy First Minister, while former DUP leader Edwin Poots has been named Speaker of the Assembly.
Little-Pengelly congratulated O'Neill on her appointment as First Minister, adding that there is an opportunity to share Northern Ireland for the better.
She said Northern Ireland can only secure a prosperous future if nationalist and unionist communities work together and said many families on both sides of the political divide face similar problems.
"It is those shared problems that are blighting too many lives, that we can work constructively, urgently together to improve," Little-Pengelly said.
She said there are a number of issues that she and O'Neill can agree on, including a need to improve Northern Ireland's hospitals and reduce the cost of childcare.
She said the two leaders also agree that teachers need to be supported, public sector workers need to be "properly paid", and the police need more resources to "put the (drug) dealers out of business".
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris described the appointment of O'Neill and Little-Pengelly as a "great day" for Northern Ireland, adding that democracy has been restored in the region.
Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin congratulated both O'Neill and Little-Pengelly, describing their appointment as a "special day" for Northern Ireland.
"While the last few weeks and months have focused on restoring the Assembly and Executive, the hard work now begins in earnest," Martin said.
"Northern Ireland faces real challenges. An Executive working earnestly - and prioritizing real, everyday needs over questions of identity - can meet these challenges."
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