Paisley reveals DUP ministers

The DUP today named former Ulster Unionist Arlene Foster as the party's Minister for the Environment in the next Stormont government…

The DUP today named former Ulster Unionist Arlene Foster as the party's Minister for the Environment in the next Stormont government which is to be restored on May 8th.

Ms Foster, who defected to the Democratic Unionists three years ago, is an Assembly member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson, North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds and Lagan Valley Assembly member Edwin Poots will be the ministers of finance, enterprise and culture respectively.

Party leader the Rev Ian Paisley appointed his son, Ian Junior, to the junior minister role in the Office of First and Deputy First Minister.

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His father will be sworn in as First Minister on May 8th alongside Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister.

Dr Paisley also announced that Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson would be one of the party's four members on the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

The party leader was in optimistic mood on the steps of Stormont as he announced his team.

"I think we should rejoice that great confidence is born in the hearts of the majority of people in Northern Ireland," he said. "I am amazed by the responses on the streets, on the phone and in every place I visit.

"People here are not Democratic Unionists but who are grateful to us for all that we have achieved."

Mr Donaldson will be joined on the policing board by Upper Bann MP David Simpson, North Down Assembly member Peter Weir and West Tyrone Assembly member Tom Buchanan.

In the Assembly, Iris Robinson will chair the Health Committee, shadowing Ulster Unionist Minister Michael McGimpsey.

East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson will chair the education committee, South Antrim MP the Rev William McCrea will chair the agriculture committee and East Derry MP Gregory Campbell will chair of the social development committee.

Mr Donaldson was also named as the chairman of the new Assembly institutional review committee.

Dr Paisley would not be drawn on the reason why Foyle Assembly member William Hay was not included in the list of announcements today, having served on the Policing Board.

However, Mr Hay's absence fuelled speculation that he will be the DUP's nominee when the Assembly elects a new Speaker next month.