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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Sophie McLaughlin

MLAs to meet at Stormont to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly will return to Stormont on Monday to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II after her death.

MLAs will attend a special sitting on September 12 at 12.30pm and a book of condolences will also be opened later in the Great Hall.

A message from the NI Assembly on social media read: "Assembly Members will gather in the Assembly Chamber on Monday 12 September at 12:30PM to pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Tributes will conclude with a minute's silence."

Read more: King Charles to carry out engagements in Northern Ireland

Speaker Alex Maskey said it was important that MLAs came together at the earliest opportunity "in recognition of a long life given to public service".

The Sinn Féin MLA said he would be meeting party whips at 5pm for the arrangements for the expression of condolences to be agreed.

Following the announcement of the death of Her Majesty The Queen, Mr Maskey said: "It is with sadness that I have learned of the death of Her Majesty The Queen.

"This is of course a particularly sorrowful time for those with a British and unionist identity, especially coming so soon after the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. However, Queen Elizabeth was also respected and held in high regard by many in our wider society, particularly given the significant leadership she contributed to making political progress here.

"Her passing will therefore be mourned by many across the whole community in the days to come."

Stormont has followed the other legislatures in closing to the public during the period of mourning. A number of flowers and tributes have been placed outside the gates since The Queen's passing on Thursday.

A statement from the NI Assembly read: "The Northern Ireland Assembly is observing the period of national mourning following the death of Her Majesty The Queen. As a mark of respect, all planned public events have been cancelled and there will be no public access to Parliament Buildings until further notice."

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