DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson has been sworn in to replace Ian Paisley Jnr in Northern Ireland's power-sharing government.
Ian Paisley Jnr officially resigned from his ministerial post today and told the Assembly he was leaving office in good spirit.
The junior minister first announced his intention to stand down last week after months of media pressure about his links to north Antrim property developer Seymour Sweeney.
Mr Paisley Jnr vehemently denied he was guilty of any wrongdoing in lobbying for a number of Mr Sweeney's property ventures, including a plan for a privately operated visitors' centre at the World Heritage Giants Causeway site.
Mr Paisley confirmed he was stepping down on the floor of the Assembly.
'I wrote today to the First Minister at the department of First and Deputy First minister to inform of him of my resignation from the government,' he said.
