Robinson and McGuinness re-elected to Assembly posts

Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness today pledged to re-double their efforts to create a better and shared future in the North as they were reappointed First and Deputy First Minister.

On the first day of the new Assembly term, the DUP leader and Sinn Féin veteran both insisted those who opposed the peace process did not represent the people of the region and would ultimately fail.

They were not the only ones who found themselves in familiar roles as outgoing Speaker William Hay was re-elected to the post.

But the DUP MLA will not serve for the full mandate after it was announced that his party and Sinn Féin had struck a deal that will see the symbolic position shared this mandate, with a republican set to take the reins in 2014.

Sinn Féin's Francie Molloy, who is likely to succeed Mr Hay, Ulster Unionist Roy Beggs and the SDLP's John Dallat were elected as deputy speakers.

Proceedings did not pass off without controversy however as newly elected Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister lost little time in criticising both main parties, prompting Mr Hay to warn him about his conduct.

Affirming the pledge of office, Mr Robinson said the election had emphatically demonstrated that people wanted the institutions at Stormont to succeed.

"The electorate made it very clear to all of us as we went round the doors that they want to see us create and safeguard employment, they want us to help the vulnerable in society, they want to see us improve the front-line services and they also want to see us unite this province and they want to see us creating a shared society," he said.

Hitting out at the dissident republicans, Mr Robinson also took a swipe at Mr Allister, putting his twist on the TUV leader's own pledge to be "a thorn in the flesh of the DUP".

"There are those outside who think they can disturb the will of the people through terrorism and there might even be some inside who think that they might do it by politic means," he said.

"To all of them I say I will be a thorn in the flesh of anyone who would try to obstruct the democratic will of the people of Northern Ireland."

Mr McGuinness said Stormont had proved that a united approach worked.

"There are big issues facing us," he said.

"Yes we have different allegiances. There are people in this house whose allegiance is to what they call the United Kingdom, I am an Irish republican, my allegiance is to the people of Ireland, but I can work with people who observe a different flag without being offended by that.

"And I think it's not too much to expect that they can work with me without being offended by the flag that I give my allegiance to."

Mr McGuinness added: "As we move forward we now move forward together, united, fighting not against each other in the battles that are out there, but fighting one big battle in the interest of our people and doing it together and what is that battle? That battle is against the world recession, it's against unemployment, it's against disadvantage, it's against inequality and it's against poverty in our society, it's a battle for jobs."

The Sinn Féin stalwart also had a stark message for dissident republicans.

"There are people outside who would wish to destroy everything that has been built up over the course of the last 15 years, they don't represent anybody but themselves, their own selfish objectives.

"And they find themselves now totally isolated from the opinions of the vast majority of the people who live on this island so they have no mandate whatsoever."

The first plenary of the year began with all 108 members signing the official register. There were 24 new faces who put pen to paper at the chamber podium.

The allocation of ministerial portfolios is set to take place on Monday after negotiations among the main parties.

The Ulster Unionists will only get one of those briefs after independent David McClarty decided not to rejoin the party - a move that would have enabled it to take a second seat at the expense of the Alliance Party.

That has heaped further pressure on UUP leader Tom Elliott as speculation mounts that he could face an internal challenge.

Losses in both the assembly and local government election were compounded by his controversial acceptance speech at his own count in Omagh when he branded Sinn Féin "scum".

After four days, the Fermanagh farmer eventually bowed to pressure and last night apologised if his remark had caused offence last night.

But that gesture looks likely to clear the storm clouds gathering around him.

While not under the same intense scrutiny, SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie has also faced questions over her future after a poor showing at the polls.

Alliance leader David Ford has no such worries over his position as his party built on the momentum created by winning its first Westminster seat last year, to record another strong showing.