Hay set to be named as new Northern Assembly speaker

The new speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly is set to be the Democratic Unionist Party's Willie Hay, it was confirmed today.

The Foyle Assemblyman is to be appointed when Stormont reopens on May 8.

His nomination follows weeks of negotiations between Sinn Féin and Ian Paisley's DUP.

Sinn Féin's Francie Molloy will take a new role as principal deputy speaker and Stormont sources said a future Assembly would feature a republican presiding officer if the party balance remained the same.

The DUP's deputy speaker in the last Assembly, Jim Wells, has been sidelined after voting against the decision to go into government.

An official DUP spokesman refused to confirm the news.

The non-sectarian Alliance Party's Eileen Bell is stepping down from her post as temporary speaker.

Mr Hay was a member of the Policing Board which scrutinises the security forces.

Born in Donegal, the Apprentice Boy has led efforts to resolve marching disputes in the north west and is seen as a conciliatory figure among nationalists.

He has also been mayor of Derry City Council.