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| Arlene Foster urges NI parties to stick to language deal | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Arlene Foster is due to resign as first minister at 13:00 BST on Monday | Arlene Foster is due to resign as first minister at 13:00 BST on Monday |
| Outgoing First Minister Arlene Foster has urged NI's political parties to stick to a language and cultural deal they agreed to in January 2020. | |
| Speaking in the NI Assembly ahead of her resignation on 13:00 BST on Monday, Mrs Foster said the deal was "the only model for success". | |
| Her departure comes six weeks after she was ousted as DUP leader. | Her departure comes six weeks after she was ousted as DUP leader. |
| In her statement to the assembly, she also said she would continue to speak up for women in public life. | |
| She said she would now spend more time with her family "whether they like it or not". | |
| When Mrs Foster resigns, Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill will also lose her position as deputy first minister because the roles are a joint office. | |
| There will then be a seven-day period for the approval of a new first minister and deputy first minister by Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). | |
| Sinn Féin has suggested it may not support a new DUP first minister unless legislation on the Irish language is approved by ministers before 10 July. | |
| Mrs Foster said parties should support the deal on culture - which included language legislation - which was included in the New Decade, New Approach deal which restored devolution to Northern Ireland in January 2020. | |
| She said: "My team and I sought and secured a cultural package that would see a range of measures to advance identities and protect them for future generations. | |
| "This is the only model for success - not one step forward for some and one step back for others." | |
| The deal included an Office of Identity and Cultural Expression, an Irish language commissioner and official recognition of both Irish and Ulster-Scots languages in Northern Ireland. | |
| Edwin Poots became leader of the DUP in May, replacing Mrs Foster | |
| Mrs Foster served as first minister from January 2016 to January 2017 - when the NI Assembly collapsed - and again from January 2020. | Mrs Foster served as first minister from January 2016 to January 2017 - when the NI Assembly collapsed - and again from January 2020. |
| She stood down as DUP leader after an internal party revolt, with at least 22 assembly members (MLAs) and four MPs signing a letter of no confidence. | She stood down as DUP leader after an internal party revolt, with at least 22 assembly members (MLAs) and four MPs signing a letter of no confidence. |
| Her departure has prompted a series of resignations within the DUP, with several councillors and party members expressing their anger about how she was ousted. | Her departure has prompted a series of resignations within the DUP, with several councillors and party members expressing their anger about how she was ousted. |
| Speaking last week, Mrs Foster said she was sad about the manner of her departure, but was "looking forward" to new possibilities. | Speaking last week, Mrs Foster said she was sad about the manner of her departure, but was "looking forward" to new possibilities. |
| How does the election of a new first minister work? | How does the election of a new first minister work? |
| How will Paul Givan handle the top job? | How will Paul Givan handle the top job? |
| Stormont is braced for another week of drama | Stormont is braced for another week of drama |
| Stormont Speaker Alex Maskey said he had received notification from Mrs Foster that she would resign from 13:00 on Monday. | Stormont Speaker Alex Maskey said he had received notification from Mrs Foster that she would resign from 13:00 on Monday. |
| "Mrs Foster has requested to make a personal statement to the assembly and I have given her permission to do so at the start of business today under speaker's business," he said. | "Mrs Foster has requested to make a personal statement to the assembly and I have given her permission to do so at the start of business today under speaker's business," he said. |
| "Under section 16B(2) of the Northern Ireland Act, if either the first minister or deputy first minister ceases to hold office at any time, the other shall also cease to hold office at that time. | "Under section 16B(2) of the Northern Ireland Act, if either the first minister or deputy first minister ceases to hold office at any time, the other shall also cease to hold office at that time. |
| "As Mrs Foster's resignation takes effect from 13:00 on 14 June 2021, both she and Mrs O'Neill will cease to hold office at that point." | "As Mrs Foster's resignation takes effect from 13:00 on 14 June 2021, both she and Mrs O'Neill will cease to hold office at that point." |
| He said the assembly's business committee would tomorrow be asked to consider scheduling an assembly sitting to nominate a new first minister and deputy first minister next Monday. | He said the assembly's business committee would tomorrow be asked to consider scheduling an assembly sitting to nominate a new first minister and deputy first minister next Monday. |
| And so the last day begins... #ProudofNI pic.twitter.com/jDlCcdkwE0 | And so the last day begins... #ProudofNI pic.twitter.com/jDlCcdkwE0 |
| New DUP leader Edwin Poots has said he will nominate his colleague Paul Givan to become the new first minister. | New DUP leader Edwin Poots has said he will nominate his colleague Paul Givan to become the new first minister. |
| Sinn Féin must nominate a candidate for deputy first minister or a first minister is unable to take office. | Sinn Féin must nominate a candidate for deputy first minister or a first minister is unable to take office. |
| The DUP's other new ministers affirmed the pledge of office and took up their posts on Monday afternoon. | |
| Michelle McIlveen replaced Peter Weir as education minister while Paul Frew took over from Diane Dodds as economy minister. | Michelle McIlveen replaced Peter Weir as education minister while Paul Frew took over from Diane Dodds as economy minister. |