Mrs Foster added: “We have many differences.
“Michelle’s narrative of the past 40 years could not be more different to mine.
“I’m not sure we will ever agree on much about the past, but we can agree there was too much suffering, and that we cannot allow society to drift backwards and allow division to grow.
“Northern Ireland is succeeding in many ways. It’s time for Stormont to move forward and show that ‘together we are stronger’ for the benefit of everyone.”
Michelle O’Neill said she was honoured to follow in the footsteps of her predecessor, the late Martin McGuinness, in taking up the role of deputy First Minister.
“I see no contradiction in declaring and delivering on our firm commitment to power-sharing with unionism in the Stormont Assembly, while also initiating a mature and inclusive debate about new political arrangements which examine Ireland’s future beyond Brexit,” she said.
“Similarly, there is no contradiction in unionism working the existing constitutional arrangements, while taking its rightful place in the conversation about what a new Ireland would look like.
“We can do this while maintaining our independent distinct political identities and working in the best interests of all of the people.”
Parliamentary reports show first speaker only - follow this lnk for the full transcription.
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