Durkan appoints Farren as North's Finance Minister

SDLP leader Mark Durkan, who took over from John Hume at the party’s annual convention earlier this year, has appointed Sean Farren to take over as Finance Minister in the Northern Executive.

Mr Durkan had remained on as Finance Minister following his recent appointment as Deputy First Minister, but he stepped down from the former position today and appointed Dublin-born Farren in his place.

Carmel Hanna will take over Mr Farren’s role as Minister for Higher Education, becoming the SDLP’s second female minister.