Newly appointed Ministers of the Stormont Executive have carried out their first formal engagements to emphasise the "new era" of devolved government in Northern Ireland. Dan Keenan, Northern News Editor, reports.
The engagements were carried out as job advertisements were posted on the Stormont website for staff to work alongside the Assembly committees.
The chair and vice-chair positions for the committees were filled yesterday in the first full plenary session of the Assembly since powers were restored. Some 180 positions are expected to be filled over the next three years.
Minister for Education Caitríona Ruane visited four schools in the Belfast area and in Co Derry, while her Sinn Féin colleague, Minister for Agriculture Michelle Gildernew, visited a cattle farm in Co Down.
Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie visited a housing scheme in south Belfast, while Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure Edwin Poots of the DUP visited a sports scheme in north Belfast.
Mr Poots also looked in on a cross-community football and basketball scheme in north Belfast, while his party colleague, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment Nigel Dodds, saw the Intelligent Systems Research Centre in Derry. Mr Dodds said the £20 million (€29.5 million) facility had "the potential to create economic regeneration and provide an essential hub for advanced research and innovation, highlighting Northern Ireland's internationally-focused knowledge infrastructure".
Mr Dodds also viewed a robotics centre at Magee university in the city
Last night First Minister the Rev Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness co-hosted a reception at Parliament Buildings for Northern Ireland's ethnic groups.
The reception coincided with discussions with officials from the Chinese embassy in London about the establishment of a consular office in Belfast.
"The Chinese community is currently the largest ethnic minority living here," the Ministers said in a statement issued by their office.
"The establishment of a consular presence will further enhance the relationship between our two peoples and provide greater levels of support to the local Chinese community. It will also provide an undoubted boost in terms of links with the second-largest economy in the world."