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Sinn Fein presents assembly team Sinn Fein presents assembly team
(20 minutes later)
Sinn Fein has announced its ministerial team for the new Northern Ireland power-sharing assembly on 8 May.Sinn Fein has announced its ministerial team for the new Northern Ireland power-sharing assembly on 8 May.
It comes hours before a meeting of party leaders in which responsibility for 10 government departments is expected to be agreed.It comes hours before a meeting of party leaders in which responsibility for 10 government departments is expected to be agreed.
Sinn Fein's team is Martin McGuinness, Conor Murphy, Michelle Gildernew, Caitriona Ruane and Gerry Kelly.Sinn Fein's team is Martin McGuinness, Conor Murphy, Michelle Gildernew, Caitriona Ruane and Gerry Kelly.
The designation of specific cabinet positions in a restored Assembly is expected to be announced later.The designation of specific cabinet positions in a restored Assembly is expected to be announced later.
John O'Dowd will be leader of the Sinn Fein group at Stormont.John O'Dowd will be leader of the Sinn Fein group at Stormont.
Alex Maskey will take over from Gerry Kelly as party spokesman on policing and justice.Alex Maskey will take over from Gerry Kelly as party spokesman on policing and justice.
DUP leader Ian Paisley gets the first choice under the d'Hondt formula, which uses assembly seats won by parties to calculate ministerial entitlement.DUP leader Ian Paisley gets the first choice under the d'Hondt formula, which uses assembly seats won by parties to calculate ministerial entitlement.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams gets second choice.Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams gets second choice.
Mr Paisley has four departments to choose, Gerry Adams has three, UUP leader Sir Reg Empey has two, while SDLP leader Mark Durkan has just one.Mr Paisley has four departments to choose, Gerry Adams has three, UUP leader Sir Reg Empey has two, while SDLP leader Mark Durkan has just one.
Sinn Fein held a news conference at Stormont on Monday, amid speculation party leaders will meet to select departments for a power-sharing executive.Sinn Fein held a news conference at Stormont on Monday, amid speculation party leaders will meet to select departments for a power-sharing executive.
Jobs for the boys and girls Portfolio picking: how it works December 1999 was the last time the party leaders agreed to select their departments. Jobs for the boys and girls Portfolio picking: how it works
Martin McGuinness told the conference that his first meeting with Mr Paisley "went very well".
"I have to say that my meeting with Ian Paisley was first-class and his attitude, his approach, during the course of the meeting, as it was during the course of the meeting last Monday, could not have been better," Mr McGuinness said.
He said they even appeared to share a joke when they both signed a letter asking Secretary of State Peter Hain to leave his Stormont office.
"I asked him (Mr Paisley) was this the beginning of a new 'Brits out' strategy on behalf of the DUP, and he smiled," he said.
December 1999 was the last time the party leaders agreed to select their departments.
This time around, the leaders of the four main parties are expected to meet behind closed doors and take turns selecting departments, under the d'Hondt formula.This time around, the leaders of the four main parties are expected to meet behind closed doors and take turns selecting departments, under the d'Hondt formula.
Mr Paisley is expected to select finance as his first choice, while Mr Adams has not yet indicated what his choice will be.Mr Paisley is expected to select finance as his first choice, while Mr Adams has not yet indicated what his choice will be.
Secretary of State Peter Hain has promised to give ministers-in-waiting access to their departments.Secretary of State Peter Hain has promised to give ministers-in-waiting access to their departments.
At the weekend he also agreed to a request from Mr Paisley and Mr McGuinness to hand over offices at Stormont Castle.At the weekend he also agreed to a request from Mr Paisley and Mr McGuinness to hand over offices at Stormont Castle.
Last week, in a ground-breaking meeting at Stormont, Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams agreed to share power in a restored NI Assembly on 8 May.Last week, in a ground-breaking meeting at Stormont, Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams agreed to share power in a restored NI Assembly on 8 May.