Murphy appointed Economy Minister in new Stormont Executive

His appointment comes as MLAs sat on Saturday afternoon to appoint a new Executive for the first time in almost two years.

It's a return to the Executive for Sinn Féin Newry and Armagh MLA, who previously held the Finance and Regional Development portfolios.

On a historic day at Stormont Sinn Féin's Vice President, Michelle O'Neill, became Northern Ireland's first republican First Minister.

Accepting the role, she said that the sitting "opens the door to the future".

She added: "We mark a moment of equality and progress. A new opportunity to work and grow together."

And in relation to the Troubles she said: "I am sorry for all the lives lost during the conflict. Without exception."

The DUP appointed Lagan Valley MLA Emma Little-Pengelly as the deputy First Minister.

She said that families in Northern Ireland all face the same challenges.

"It is those shared problems that are blighting too many lives, that we can work constructively, urgently together to improve," she adds.

"We must learn the lessons of the last seven years, whatever path we are going to take."

Their appointments followwed the appointment of Edwin Poots (DUP) as the Speaker of the House.

Caral Ní Chuilin of Sinn Féin, John Blair of Alliance and Steve Aiken of the Ulster Unionist Party were made deputy speakers.

The rest of the Executive is made up as follows:

Justice Minister: Naomi Long (Alliance)

Education Minister: Paul Givan (DUP)

Communities Minister: Gordon Lyons (DUP)

Health Minister: Robin Swann (UUP)

Finance Minister: Caoimhe Archibald (Sinn Féin)

Agriculture and Environment Minister: Andrew Muir (Alliance)

Infrastructure Minister: John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin)

The SDLP's Matthew O'Toole is the Leader of the Opposition, while Sinn Féin's Aisling Reilly and the DUP's Pam Cameron are both Junior Ministers.