Power-sharing in Northern Ireland is not at risk after the leadership turmoil within the DUP, Stormont's First Minister has said.
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill said she had approached the leaders of the three other parties in the ministerial executive in Belfast - the DUP, Alliance and Ulster Unionists - to ensure "cohesion" amid the political fallout from the shock resignation of Jeffrey Donaldson.
Mr Donaldson quit as DUP leader on Friday after being charged with historical sexual offences. East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson has been appointed interim leader.
The deal that restored power-sharing earlier this year hinged on the backing of Mr Donaldson, and his sudden exit from the political frontline has prompted renewed speculation around the stability of the devolved institutions.
Mr Robinson was closely aligned to Jeffrey Donaldson’s political strategy so his elevation is unlikely to see the party step back from its recent enthusiastic backing for power-sharing.
However, his election as permanent leader is not a foregone conclusion and it remains to be seen if other candidates, potentially more sceptical of the return of devolution, will emerge.
Ms O'Neill held talks with Mr Robinson and the other parties leaders on Friday after the disclosures about Mr Donaldson.
"I think everybody was shocked," she said of Friday's developments.
"(It's) a very challenging time, not least for those people that have come forward to the police."
In an interview with Sky News, she added: "My priority is in terms of the local Executive and making sure that that continues to do its job.
"My priority in this period is to provide that leadership that the public rightly deserve and expect from their political leaders.
"I've spoken to the new interim leader of the DUP, Gavin Robinson. I've also spoken to my Executive colleagues, the political leaders around the Executive table, just in terms of the work that we have to do, that we need to prioritise cohesion and leadership through these times."
Ms O'Neill said all the party leaders shared the view that there is no threat to the power-sharing institutions.
"The public here rightly deserve our newly formed Executive to continue to deliver for them for now and into the future," the First Minister said.
"My priority is to make that power-sharing work, my priority is to work with the other political leaders around the Executive table.
"That was why I thought it was important yesterday to reach out to each of the political leaders to talk about the need for cohesion, to talk about the need for leadership and to talk about the delivery that we now need to get on with in terms of the Executive itself."
She added: "My priority is to provide leadership in this period, my priority is to work with all the other Executive colleagues, my priority is to make sure that we deliver in terms of programme for government, and the day-to-day matters that people want us to be prioritising.
"The public rightly expect their political leaders to deliver for them. That's where I'm going to be focused."
Deputy First Minister 'determined to provide stability'
DUP Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has described her shock at the resignation of party leader Jeffrey Donaldson as she vowed to work to "provide stability".
In a statement on social media Ms Little-Pengelly said: "I know many, many people are deeply shocked and devastated by this news, as I am.
"Victims must always have the best opportunity for justice. This must be fully respected and supported.
"My thoughts are with those suffering who have put their faith in the criminal justice system. Protecting the integrity of that process necessitates significant restrictions on what can be said. I have faith in our justice system.
"I want to assure you that I am determined to do all I can to provide stability. I will be working closely with our new interim party leader Gavin Robinson and my colleagues in the time ahead to continue the work of tackling the big issues faced by Northern Ireland.
"There is much to do. We are determined to deliver for all of the people of Northern Ireland."
'Not about any one individual'
Interim DUP leader Gavin Robinson has told colleagues the party is not about any one individual.
In an email message to members a day after he was appointed to the role following Mr Donaldson's shock resignation, Mr Robinson said: "Our thoughts are with those suffering and who have put their faith in our criminal justice system.
"The police service and courts must be allowed to complete their processes without interference. Nothing that any of us say or do, must in any way compromise that process.
"There will be some who will attempt to score cheap political points, but I know that colleagues and friends across Northern Ireland will ignore the noise and focus on what really matters.
"The Democratic Unionist Party is not about any one individual. We are a party of MPs, MLAs, councillors, and scores of dedicated members across all parts of Northern Ireland.
"We exist to build a better and stronger Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom.
"I am honoured to take up the position of interim leader of the party. I wish you all a happy and peaceful Easter break."
'This just came totally out of the blue'
The DUP has been plunged into "turmoil" by the resignation of Mr Donaldson, a senior party colleague has said.
East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson described the revelation that Mr Donaldson had been charged with historical sex offences as a "bolt from the blue".
Mr Wilson also gave his full backing to interim leader Mr Robinson, insisting the DUP should not be distracted by a leadership contest this side of the general election.
Police today issued a warning against speculation on the case, with officers highlighting that it was a criminal offence to post or publish anything that might lead to the identification of alleged victims in sexual offences investigations.
East Belfast MP Mr Robinson, who was DUP deputy leader, was unanimously appointed interim leader in an emergency meeting of the party hierarchy yesterday.
Mr Wilson said the party now had to regroup and focus on the election.
"We were all shocked, this just came totally out of the blue," he told Cool FM news.
"We found out about it, I think, just the night before. We called a meeting then first thing in the morning and all of us were kind of gobsmacked that this had happened because there was absolutely no indication that there was anything of this nature about to break."
He added: "Any party which is hit with this kind of shock is bound to be in turmoil.
"On Thursday we thought we were getting prepared for a general election. We were going to talk about the kind of themes for the general election, that was really what the focus was, and then suddenly you're thrown totally off course."
Mr Robinson had been a key ally of Mr Donaldson and was fully behind his decision to back a Government deal on post-Brexit trading arrangements that saw the DUP end its two-year boycott of powersharing at Stormont and return to the Assembly and Executive in February.
Read more: Resignation of DUP leader a political bombshell out of the blue
Mr Wilson is among several high-profile party members who have been openly critical of the British government measures, insisting they have not gone far enough to remove the so-called Irish Sea border.
Despite their different views on the deal, Mr Wilson made clear he was fully supportive of Mr Robinson leading their party into the UK general election.
"Our next focus has to be the general election," he said.
"We're going to have a general election in which unionism is going to be under huge threat.
"I've no doubt that the events of this week will galvanise those anti-unionist parties - the SDLP, Sinn Féin, the Alliance (party) will see that we've been weakened by this. They'll make a big push.
"There's division within unionism, which is going to be difficult, as well. And this is an election where I know Sinn Féin's aim is to become the biggest party for the third time, the third election (in a row) in Northern Ireland, and then of course, if there's a new Labour government, they'll push for a referendum (on Irish unity) etc.
"So we know how crucial this election is and, therefore, we're going to focus now on Gavin getting our message across that, look, there's a grave threat to the Union in this election, and we've got to get unionists settled and galvanised and around the party, the only unionist party that can really successfully steer a way through this election."
Mr Wilson added: "We're not going to start focusing now on a leadership election.
"The fact that we chose (Mr Robinson) unanimously shows that there's a confidence that he can take us through these difficult circumstances. And, of course, we'll all rally behind him and give him whatever support he needs."
Government 'stands ready' to work with Robinson
Speaking on RTÉ's Saturday with Mary Regan, Minister of State Jack Chambers has outlined how the government "stands ready" to work with the DUP's Gavin Robinson.
"We need to ensure across the board we have the full effect and functioning of the institutions and the Executive," Mr Chambers said.
"We will be working with everyone within the northern administration to ensure that happens and we underpin progress we made in recent weeks."
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said the charges against Mr Donaldson create "instability" and those who opposed the post Brexit deal may now be emboldened to "try to flex their political muscles".
He also criticised what he described as a "major weakness" in the institutions where "any party can collapse it". Adding that needs to be reformed.
Sinn Féin's Mairéad Farrell said First Minister Michelle O'Neill has reached out to other parties in the aftermath of Mr Donaldson's resignation and discussed the importance of real leadership and her commitment to power-sharing.
Speaking at an event organised by relatives of the 1916 Rising, former taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he hopes Mr Donaldson's resignation does not derail recent progress by the Stormont Executive.
Mr Ahern said it was a huge blow for the DUP, adding that nobody saw this coming.
He said the legal process had to be let run its course, but he said he hoped nothing would destabilise the Executive, saying "they had a really good start".
"The important thing is, the bigger picture is the stability of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement," Mr Ahern said.
"That the Executive works ahead...and the first meeting of the North South bodies...that’s a big meeting."
He said he is confident that those involved would "keep it going".
Asked if he feared that some DUP members might see opportunity in the instability created by Mr Donaldson’s departure, Mr Ahern said he always feared such things could happen after so many stop-starts.
"But so much effort has gone into this in the last two years, so hopefully the leadership, Michelle O’Neill and the other leaders will all work to make sure this stays stable," he said.
"There will be some people on the fringes, as there always is, who try to cause problems."
Mr Donaldson, who has had an almost 40-year career in politics, became DUP leader in July 2021.
His career started with the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and in 1985, aged 22, he was the youngest person to be elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
His relationship with former UUP leader David Trimble deteriorated when he led a walkout of the 1998 peace talks after opposing the early release of republican and loyalist prisoners.
He left the UUP to join the DUP in January 2004.
He was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II in her 2016 Birthday Honours and was given a knighthood.
