Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said she wants to attend events that are important to the unionist community, stating that political leaders in Northern Ireland need to "step outside of our traditional comfort zones".
Ms O'Neill spoke of her pride at attending an event this week on the Shankill Road in Belfast alongside Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
The Sinn Féin politician became the first nationalist First Minister of Northern Ireland when the Stormont power-sharing institutions were restored almost two weeks ago.
Speaking on RTÉ's The Late Late Show, Ms O'Neill said she is "very proud" to become the first nationalist First Minister of Northern Ireland.
Ms O'Neill said her role comes with "enormous responsibility" and said she wants to represent everyone in Northern Ireland.
She said she had been getting on well with the DUP's Ms Little-Pengelly, stating they had had a positive first two weeks in office.
She said: "We're both tasked with leadership, given that responsibility to lead and we're determined to do that together.
"We have come from two very different political backgrounds, two different lived experiences, two different outlooks for where we think we should be in the future, in particular in relation to constitutional change. But that's alright, isn't it?
"It's fine to have that different viewpoint but also working towards day-to-day things like public services, health, education, childcare and this week was a great opportunity for us because we both prioritised childcare.
"We went into a childcare setting in north Belfast, and we also went into a childcare setting on the Shankill Road.
"I believe that's the first time that a First Minister and a deputy First Minister have ever stood on the Shankill Road side by side visiting a project.
"I was pleased that we were able to do that, but I don't think Emma or I looked at the children in north Belfast or the children on the Shankill and thought for a second that they were different, they are children and everything that we're doing is about building that better future for them.
"So, I just thought that that was a fabulous thing for us to do."
Ms O'Neill said they are both lucky to be part of the "Good Friday Agreement generation" and can bring people together and "lead by example".
Ms O'Neill said she had an open mind about accepting any invitations to attend events from the unionist community as First Minister.
She said: "I would gladly receive invitations to anything that anyone wants to send me one for," adding "I just think it's important that we all step outside of our traditional comfort zones and find ways to reach others out there.
"I'm a Republican, I'm very comfortable in my own skin. I know who I am and what I want to achieve, but I also think that if we're going to lead and be political leaders in today's society, 26 years on from the Good Friday Agreement, then we all have to be focused on the future," Ms O'Neill said.
"I do think things that are very important symbolically, in particular for those from the British tradition, for example, myself attending the Queen's funeral, or King Charles's coronation, that's really really important if I'm going to represent everybody in society and I believe that I can fairly represent everybody in society," she said.
"And I want to demonstrate that not just by saying that, but by doing things that actually really mean something to people," she added.
Ms O'Neill was also asked if she would attend IRA commemorations during her time as First Minister.
She said: "We have a very tragic past, a very difficult past where so much hurt and injury has been caused, many injustices out there. I think we have to respect that everybody has a right to remember their dead and we should just be respectful of that and create that space for each other.
However, Ms O'Neill said she will be "mindful" of her position as First Minister when accepting any invitations because she wants to represent everyone in Northern Ireland "fairly".
"Clearly, I am First Minister for everybody now. I will be very true to that pledge that I've made," she said.
She said: "So, any invitations that I would take up but always be very mindful of the office that I hold because I want to represent everybody fairly.
"And that includes Republicans because I think that's important to say also, I want to represent the community that I come from and the background that I come from, but I can also do that and also represent everybody else there in society."
She added that she "regrets every loss of life" during the Troubles.
"I will work night and day to represent everyone from our society. I won't surrender who I am but I certainly will reach out and will stretch myself continually to try to find ways to reach people who perhaps haven't felt that they know me or that I couldn’t represent them in the past. But I will demonstrate that every day," she said.
"I would never ask anyone to move on, the past is the past, it is our collective and shared past. But I certainly would ask to try to move forward and I want to help move our society and our people forward in a unified way," she added.
