Lagan Valley assembly member Paul Givan has been announced as Northern Ireland's new first minister.

Mr Givan will on Monday take over from Arlene Foster, who was ousted as Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader in April after an internal revolt.

Edwin Poots, Stormont's agriculture minister, replaced her as DUP leader amid tensions within the party.

The fact that the appointment is taking effect from Monday will allow Mrs Foster to remain as first minister during the British-Irish Council in County Fermanagh on Friday.

Mr Givan said there was a "huge responsibility that comes with the position".

Mr Givan said it was a huge task to follow DUP founder Ian Paisley, and his successors Peter Robinson and Arlene Foster, whom he referred to as "giants".

Therefore, Mr Givan's appointment as first minister must be approved by Sinn Féin, which currently holds the position of deputy first minister.

Paul Givan was one of the early names to be tipped for the post of first minister in the eventuality of Edwin Poots winning the DUP leadership contest.

Prior to his appointment as first minister, he was chairman of the Stormont Justice Committee, although he has now been replaced in that role by party colleague Mervyn Storey.

Mr Givan endorsed Mr Poots' bid for leadership of the DUP.

As for Paul Givan, he knows his way around government, so Edwin Poots will see him as a safe pair of hands.

He has effectively been on the DUP leader's shoulder throughout his political career from the minute he joined Mr Poots' office as backroom staff when he was 18, all the way to today when Mr Poots handed him his dream job as first minister.

The ministerial appointments have been made against a backdrop of tension within the party over the manner in which Mrs Foster was ousted, and the direction of Mr Poots' leadership.

Mr Hanna said there was a "culture of fear" in the party and claimed he witnessed "bullying" at last month's meeting of the DUP executive, during which Mr Poots' election as leader was ratified by party members.

DUP deputy leader Paula Bradley, however, said she did not see that happening.

Justice Minister and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said she and Mr Givan have at times had a "tense" relationship.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the changing political personnel in the executive would make "no difference to the lives of people across Northern Ireland unless there is a marked change in approach to government".