Alastair Ross '˜thrilled' over Junior Minister role

The news was confirmed as new Ministers affirmed the pledge of office and began work in their new departments.

Mr Ross said: “I am thrilled to have been asked to take up my new role in the Executive Office and look forward to working alongside First Minister Arlene Foster in delivering the five point plan that was so overwhelmingly endorsed by the electorate earlier this month.

“The next five years present a massive opportunity for Northern Ireland, and the whole Executive needs to deliver better outcomes for the public.

“I look forward to playing my role in that and look forward to the new challenges that lie ahead.”

This is the DUP man’s second term as Assembly member for East Antrim having been returned in 2011.

Mr Ross secured the sixth and final East Antrim seat in the recent Assembly election, polling 2,323 first preference votes.

He served as Assembly Private Secretary for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment until September 2014 when he was appointed as Chair of the Justice Committee.

Mr Ross also represents the DUP on the Assembly All Party Group on International Development.

He is joined in the newly formed Executive Office by Junior Minister Megan Fearon of Sinn Fein.