NI Election 2022: 'no government until Protocol sorted' Ian Paisley
Last updated 6th May 2022
DUP MP Ian Paisley said there would be no devolved government in Northern Ireland while issues around the Northern Ireland Protocol remain unresolved.
Speaking at an election count centre in Jordanstown, Mr Paisley said: "I think the elephant in the room is the protocol.
"Until we get this matter fixed we can have whatever election we want but there is not going to be a government until we get that protocol issue resolved.
"Hopefully today will be a focus for the government that they have to now resolve this, not just for unionists but for everyone. The protocol hurts us all."
He added: "People want the Assembly to function, I want it to function as well but it can't function when we have this sword of Damocles hanging over us as regards the protocol."
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Magherafelt Update - 1am
Gary Middleton wins the final seat in Foyle for DUP.
Counting has finished with all 90 MLAs elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Titanic Update - 8.45pm
Former Stormont minister Nichola Mallon became one of the highest-profile casualties of the Assembly Elections after losing her seat in North Belfast.
Magherafelt Update - 5.50pm
Sinn Fein's Caoimhe Archibald and Independent Claire Sugden have been elected in East Londonderry
Titanic Update - 4.45pm
Another flurry of announcements at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast
Alan Chambers, UUP - North Down
David Brooks, DUP - East Belfast
Andy Allen, UUP - East Belfast
Magherafelt Update - 4.15pm
Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill and Mary-Lou McDonald have arrived in Magherafelt
Magherafelt Update - 3.25pm
Eoin Tennyson of Alliance has won the last seat in Upper Bann
Magherafelt Update - 3.05pm
Alliance's Tom Elliott has been elected in Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Magherafelt Update - 2.15pm
Declan McAleer elected in West Tyrone for Sinn Fein
Magherafelt Update - 2pm
UUP's Doug Beattie is elected in Upper Bann
Magherafelt Update - 1.30pm
Diane Dodds is elected in Upper Bann
Magherafelt Update - 1pm
The DUP's Alan Robinson is elected for East Derry at the Meadowbank Sports Arena, Magherafelt.
Magherafelt Update - 12.50pm
Three more MLAs elected for West Tyrone at Meadowbank Sports Arena, Magherafelt.
SDLP - Daniel McCrossan
SF - Maoliosa McHugh
DUP - Tom Buchanan
Magherafelt Update - 11.30am
DUP's Jonathan Buckley (left) is elected for Upper Bann
Titanic Update - 10.50am
Belfast Mayor Kate Nicholl of Alliance takes the final seat in South Belfast
Titanic Update - 10.45am
Paula Bradshaw of Alliance celebrates securing her seat
Magherafelt Update - 10.30am
Keith Buchanan first to be elected in Mid Ulster on Saturday
Day Two - 9am
Counting continues this morning in the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Ulster Univeristy Jordanstown and Meadowbank Sports Arena, Magherafelt.
Jordanstown Update - 11pm
TUV leader Jim Allister elected in North Antrim
Titanic Update - 10.50pm
DUP's Edwin Poots celebrates being elected in South Belfast
Jordanstown Update - 10pm
Former UUP leader Steve Aiken celebrates being re-elected in South Antrim
Magherafelt Update - 9.35pm
Long-serving SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly has failed to be re-elected in Upper Bann
Jordanstown Update - 8.49pm
The DUP's Gordon Lyons (right) celebrating being elected in East Antrim
Jordanstown Update - 8.42pm
celebrations already under way from the Alliance Party
Jordanstown Update - 6.40pm
DUP MP Gregory Campbell at the count in Meadowbank Sports Arena, Magherafelt.
Jordanstown Update - 5.55pm
UUP's Robbie Butler elected on second stage
Jordanstown Update - 5.15pm
Ulster Unionist Robin Swann has been returned to the Northern Ireland Assembly after he topped the poll in the North Antrim constituency.
Jordanstown Update - 5pm
Austin Lennon cant hide his excitement after Alex Easton got elected on first preference Votes
Jordanstown Update - 4.15pm
Jeffrey Donaldson is re-elected in Lagan Valley with 12,626 first preference votes
Titanic Update - 4pm
Alliance leader Naomi Long has dedicated her re-election as an MLA for East Belfast to her father-in-law who recently died.
CONFIRMED
The official overall turnout figure has been confirmed as 63.61%, down from 64.8% in the 2017 Assembly Election.
Magherafelt Update - 3.40pm
Michelle O'Neill re-elected on first count
Titanic Update - 3.25pm
Carl N Chuiln and Gerry Kelly elected on the first count in North Belfast
Titanic Update - 3pm
The Alliance Party's Kellie Armstrong was elected on the first count to the Strangford constituency with 7,015 votes.
Titanic Update - 2.30pm
Naomi Long arrives at the Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast.
"We fought a campaign that was focused on what we could do if we could get a government up and running. That has to be the focus and I think people responded to it. "
Titanic Update - 2.10pm
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll drops into the TEC
Titanic Update - 2.05pm
Peter Weir at the Titanic Exhibition Centre this afternoon
Magherafelt Update - 1.40pm
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood at the count in Meadowbank Sports Arena, Magherafelt.
Magherafelt Update - 1.20pm
Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill arrives at the count in Meadowbank Sports Arena, Magherafelt
The Mid Ulster candidate is tipped to become first minister of Northern Ireland if her party can pull off a historic victory in the Assembly elections.
Magherafelt Update - 1.15pm
People Before Profit's Eamonn McCann chats to officials at the Meadowbank Sports Arena
Magherafelt Update - 1.10pm
DUP's William Irwin has arrived for the Magherafelt count at Meadow
Jordanstown Update - 1pm
TUV Leader Jim Allister looks on at Ulster University, Jordanstown
Magherafelt Update - 12.50pm
DUP's Gregory Campbell
Magherafelt Update - 12.45pm
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood arrives for the count
Magherafelt Update - 12.40pm
Voter turnout in for Upper Bann which is being counted in Magherafelt
Titanic Update - midday
The DUP's former leader Edwin Poots and party colleague Joanne Bunting at the Titanic
Jordanstown update - 10.45am
Former First Minister Paul Givan
Titanic Update - 9.42am
Counting is well underway at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast
Magherafelt Update - 10.15am
The Meadowbank Sports Arena is busy this morning
Jordanstown Update - 9.30am
TUV's Mel Lucas at the Jordanstown count
Jordanstown Update - 9.20am
Alex Easton, Independent, arrives at Jordanstown
Titanic Update - 9.15am
UUP's Andy Allen at the Titanic count
Titanic Update - 9.14am
David Brooks of the DUP awaits the first results at the TEC
Titanic Update - 9.06am
Virginia McVea, the Chief Electoral Officer visits the TEC Belfast
Jordanstown Update - 9.05am
DUP Leader Jeffrey Donaldson arrives at the Jordanstown count this morning
Jordanstown Update - 9am
UUP's Robin Swann visits the Jordanstown counting centre
Titanic Update - 8.50am
Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly arrives at the Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast
Jordanstown Update - 8.50am
Ballot boxes are open at the Ulster University campus in Jordanstown
Magherafelt Update - 8.05am
Doors have opened at the Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt
Titanic Update - 8am
The count has begun at the TEC Belfast
READ MORE:
NI Election 2022: 'a really positive campaign' Michelle O'Neill
Ni Election 2022: 'a good day for Alliance' Naomi Long