Edwin Poots.
The DUP’s Edwin Poots and Nelson McCausland are being replaced as Stormont ministers, it has been announced.
Party leader and First Minister Peter Robinson announced Jim Wells is to replace Mr Poots as health minister while Mervyn Storey will take over from Nelson McCausland as social development minister.
Mr Robinson said the two outgoing ministers had “done a tremendous job.”
He added: “As we lead up to elections, we wanted to settle things within the party, we wanted to put a fresh team in there, let new ideas flow through and give people an opportunity to show just what they can do.
“In doing that, there isn’t one of the ministers, committee chairs or deputy chairs who are being moved around that I wouldn’t be prepared to reappoint in the future.”
Mr McCausland is to become chair the culture, arts and leisure committee, replacing Michelle McIlveen who will replace Mr Storey a the education committee chair.
The DUP reshuffle will also see:
Trevor Clarke become chairman of the regional development committee, replacing Jimmy Spratt;
Alastair Ross replace Paul Givan as justice committee chair;
Brenda Hale will take the place of Mr Ross on the Policing Board;
Paula Bradley replaces Mr Wells as vice chair of the health committee;
William Irwin will take over from Paul Frew as chair of the agriculture committee.

