Arlene Foster The First Minister
Channel: Northern Ireland Assembly
Date: 2016-01-12

On Monday 16 January 2016, Mrs Arlene Foster MLA, affirmed the Pledge of Office for the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister.

This video is her acceptance speech.

From the Official Report:
"Mr Speaker: Thank you. I now confirm that Mrs Arlene Foster and Mr Martin McGuinness, having affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office, have taken up office as First Minister and deputy First Minister in accordance with section 16(b) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. I offer my warmest congratulations to you both and wish you well for the future. 

There will now be an opportunity for Members to comment, and I will begin by calling the First Minister and then the deputy First Minister to address the House. I call Mrs Arlene Foster, the First Minister.

Mrs Foster (The First Minister): Mr Speaker, it is with great humility, an enormous sense of responsibility and, indeed, the imagination of endless potential for Northern Ireland that I affirmed the Pledge of Office and take up this post today.

I can think of no greater honour than to have the opportunity to serve my country and the people of Northern Ireland as their First Minister. I am truly humbled by the trust and confidence that have been placed in me and am grateful to all those who have kept me in their prayers in recent days. 

As a young girl growing up in rural Fermanagh, the most westerly constituency in the United Kingdom, in the days when we were plagued by terrorism and decisions affecting our fates and futures were taken far away, I could not have dreamed that I would be in this position today. Is it any wonder that, in politics, I believe that nothing is impossible? The real measure of success, however, is not in obtaining the office but in how it enables me to help others to realise their dreams, ambitions and aspirations. For my part, I want to make sure that what is possible for me is possible for any young girl or boy growing up in Northern Ireland. 

For so many reasons, this is an historic moment. I take great pride in the fact that, since Northern Ireland was created almost a century ago, I am the first woman to hold such a post. It was with even greater trepidation that I learned that I am also the youngest person to have assumed this post. I hope that I can bring the perspectives of both those attributes to the office. Indeed, at this turning point in our country's history, as we seek to address the challenges of the future, I believe that the moment is right for the next generation to assume leadership. The challenges that this generation faces are very different from those that our forefathers faced a century ago, but our fundamental values remain the same. In just five years' time, the challenges will be different again. Although I may be the youngest holder of this post, Mr Speaker, I am not new to ministerial office. You will be aware that this is not the first time that I have taken the Pledge of Office: over the past eight years, I have done so as Environment Minister, economy Minister and, most recently, Finance Minister. I have learned much in those roles that I will bring to my new office, but I will be forever grateful for the opportunity that Dr Paisley and Peter Robinson gave to me to serve the community in ministerial office and the rich legacy that I inherit in this office. That experience has prepared me for the challenges that will undoubtedly lie ahead." 

You can read the full trscript on our website: http://nia1.me/2ws