The reshuffle on the party’s front bench at Stormont was announced following the election of outgoing economy minister Conor Murphy, who has secured a seat in the Republic’s Seanad. Caoimhe Archibald will leave her role as finance minister to replace Mr Murphy as Economy Minister.

Sinn Féin Economy Minister Conor Murphy has been elected to the Seanad (Irish parliament's upper chamber) and will quit his job at Stormont. He secured one of the 60 seats available with the support of Sinn Féin TDs (members of the Irish parliament) and councillors.

Liz Kimmins has taken over as Infrastructure Minister, with the former minister John O'Dowd taking up the finance brief. | UTV News

Economy Minister Conor Murphy has resigned from his position in the Executive after being elected to become a member of Seanad Éireann. Polling for the Seanad closed at the end of last week, with the election held to fill the chamber’s 60 seats following the Dáil election last December.

Sinn Féin Economy Minister Conor Murphy has been elected to the Seanad (Irish parliament's upper chamber) and will quit his job at Stormont. He secured one of the 60 seats available with the support of Sinn Féin TDs (members of the Irish parliament) and councillors.

Last-placed Cathal Berry, former Independent TD for Kildare South sees his Seanad bid end. Former MP Mr Murphy, who led Sinn Féin’s negotiating team in many political talks north of the border, secured one of nine seats on the Seanad’s industrial and commercial vocation panel.

Sinn Fein’s Caoimhe Archibald is to become Stormont’s economy minister in a reshuffle prompted by the election of Conor Murphy to the Seanad.

Mr Murphy took one of the nine seats on the industrial and commercial vocational panel in a result confirmed close to 1am on Monday morning

Conor Murphy is to leave his roles as Economy Minister and Newry & Armagh MLA after he was elected to the Seanad.