In accordance with section 39 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, we will now commence the election of the Deputy Speakers. The procedure for electing Deputy Speakers will be the same as for the election of the Speaker. I will ask for proposals, which must be seconded. I will then confirm that the Member accepts the nomination and will continue in that way until there are no further proposals. I remind Members that a debate may take place after I announce that the time for proposals has passed, during which Members will be allowed up to three minutes to speak.

Do I have any proposals for the office of Deputy Speaker?

I nominate Carál Ní Chuilín as Deputy Speaker.

Is there a seconder?

I second that.

Ms Ní Chuilín, do you accept the proposal?

Glacaim leis. I accept.

Are there any further proposals?

On behalf of the Alliance Party, I nominate my colleague John Blair.

Is there a seconder for that proposal?

I second that.

Mr Blair, are you prepared to accept the nomination?

I am happy to accept.

Are there any further proposals?

Mr Speaker, I congratulate you on your new role. As Chief Whip of the Ulster Unionist Party, I look forward to working with you through the Business Committee.

I nominate Dr Steve Aiken MLA.

Is there a seconder for Dr Aiken?

I second that.

Dr Aiken, do you accept the proposal?

I accept the proposal.

Are there any further proposals? OK.

The time for proposals has expired. Do any Members wish to speak?

I should put it on record that, although Alec and I are older than you, we still feel a little middle-aged.

Is mór an onóir dom tacú le Carál Ní Chuilín don phost seo. It is my great privilege to support Carál Ní Chuilín MLA for the position of Deputy Speaker. Carál is a friend whom I have known for many decades, and, throughout that time, she has been a steadfast and determined advocate for the people of North Belfast and a relentless voice for the least well-off in all our communities, determined to ensure that they key principles of respect, equality and tolerance are hardwired into the institutions and, indeed, into society.

Carál has been a Member of the Assembly since 2007, serving as Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure and Minister for Communities as well as acting as Sinn Féin's Chief Whip, so she has enormous experience in the institutions. She knows what it takes to ensure that they function as they should, and I have no doubt that she will bring the benefit of that experience to the position of Deputy Speaker. I also know that she will bring to the role her characteristic straight-talking and no-nonsense approach, which I have often witnessed at first hand. That will ensure that the Chamber provides a platform for respectful, positive and productive debate. Carál is a huge asset to the institutions, and we are privileged to have her. I am delighted to support her for the position of Deputy Chief Constable.

[Laughter.]

I have to retract what I said about feeling middle-aged: I feel a lot older after that. To set the record straight, since this will be all over the news, it is for Deputy Speaker.

Carál, you would have made a very good Chief Constable as well.

[Laughter.]

I call Ms Bradshaw, if you can follow that.

I am not sure I can follow that. As a fellow South Belfast MLA, I congratulate you and wish you well in your new role as Speaker.

I am delighted to nominate my colleague and friend John Blair to the position of Deputy Speaker. I first met John over 20 years ago on a district policing partnership, and I saw then, as I have seen since, a hard-working individual who is committed to making Northern Ireland a better place for everyone to live. For those of you who have served on a committee with John, including the Policing Board, you will know that he is fair and considerate and likes to get on with business. I know that he will be perfect for the role of Deputy Speaker and that he will treat every Member of the Chamber without bias or favour.

I ask Members to support our nomination of John Blair and vote for him as deputy Whip.

[Laughter.]

Goodness, what is going on today? Deputy Speaker.

Order. There are no further speakers, so we will move to the Question.

Question, That Ms Carál Ní Chuilín be Deputy Speaker of this Assembly, put and agreed to. Resolved (with cross-community support): That Ms Carál Ní Chuilín be Deputy Speaker of this Assembly.

As there are Ayes from all sides of the House and only one No, from Mr Allister, I am satisfied that cross-community support has been demonstrated.

I congratulate you, Ms Ní Chuilín, on becoming Deputy Speaker.

Question, That Mr John Blair be Deputy Speaker of this Assembly, put and agreed to. Resolved (with cross-community support): That Mr John Blair be Deputy Speaker of this Assembly.

As there are Ayes from all sides of the House and only one No, from Mr Allister, I am satisfied that cross-community support has been demonstrated. I therefore confirm Mr Blair as Deputy Speaker and congratulate him.

Question, That Dr Steve Aiken be Deputy Speaker of this Assembly, put and agreed to. Resolved (with cross-community support): That Dr Steve Aiken be Deputy Speaker of this Assembly.

As there are Ayes from all sides of the House and only one No, from Mr Allister, I am satisfied that cross-community support has been demonstrated and therefore congratulate Dr Aiken. You are now a Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken.

All three Deputy Speakers have been elected. That concludes this item of business. I congratulate the successful candidates and look forward to working with all of the Deputy Speakers.