The first and deputy first minister are to hold their first joint press conference since June after Michelle O'Neill admitted that Stormont's public health messaging was undermined by her attendance at the funeral of veteran IRA man Bobby Storey.
The deputy first minister was pictured among crowds at the funeral in June despite restrictions on public gatherings as part of the coronavirus regulations.
Ms O'Neill said she regrets that large numbers attended the veteran republican's funeral.
Speaking to RTÉ News, she said: "It wasn't my intention this would happen, but it did, I accept this and I regret this is the case."
"I accept that we have not been able to deliver clear messaging in the format that was the practice before this controversy."
Following her comments, it was announced that First Minister Arlene Foster and Ms O''Neill would this afternoon appear at a joint press conference for the first time since June.
The first and deputy first minister were regularly appearing together together to brief the media on Covid-19 developments up until the row following the Storey funeral.
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The timing of Ms O'Neil's comments was significant as Health Minister Robin Swann is due to table imposing Covid-19 restrictions at today's Executive briefing. The incidence of coronavirus in Northern Ireland has been rising in recent weeks. The daily average is now over 90.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that she knows that the large numbers who were out on the streets at the funeral gave rise to a very heartfelt and legitimate public concern.
She said that "of course the numbers on the streets gave rise to significant concern, I accept that" adding, "all of us have to do our best".
Reacting to Ms O'Neill's comments, First Minister Arlene Foster said: "The Storey funeral fundamentally undermined the Northern Ireland Executive’s Covid-19 rules and confused our messaging.
"The public messaging was significantly undermined as a result of the attendance at the funeral by those who make the law and regulations.
"It is right that the deputy first minister has acknowledged the undermining of the public messaging as a result of what happened, and the deep hurt and anger that was caused as a result of Michelle O’Neill’s action. Those who set the rules must abide by the rules.
"Clearly those investigations and enquiries into the activities at the funeral which we instigated must continue and we look forward to their conclusions as soon as possible.
"Northern Ireland is facing very significant challenges as a result of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic and it is vital that as we move forward we do so on the basis that our messages are clear and that the actions of everyone in leadership do nothing to undermine the collective efforts to beat COVID-19."
DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart said: “The consequences of their blatant disregard for the public health message is evidenced in the case count, yet sorry seems to be the hardest word.
“Breathtaking arrogance. What they expect of others they won’t do themselves.”
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar also welcomed Ms O'Neill's statement and called on Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty to apologise for attending the funeral.
The Donegal TD was among a number of the party's representatives who appeared at the service.
Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Varadkar said: "While I can understand people paying their respects in the streets, I can't understand or accept the political rally in Milltown cemetery.
"This was no graveside oration. Mr Storey was cremated on the other side of town.
"It was a political rally in the middle of a pandemic organised by Sinn Fein and other republicans.
"Deputy Doherty, you spoke at that rally, and I want to know now if you are going to apologise for that and whether you will be held to account for it?
"Will anyone in Sinn Fein be resigning as a consequence of this? Or do you believe that Sinn Féin republicans are some sort of higher caste that don't have to obey the same laws as anyone else and don't have to follow the public health guidance?"
Mr Doherty did not acknowledge his comments, which prompted Mr Varadkar to suggest a debate on the incident.
Earlier this month, Ms Foster said she would be unable to share a platform with Ms O'Neill until there was "an acknowledgement that there has been damage done to confidence and to messaging in and around Covid-19.”
She said: “If that acknowledgement was there, I think we could then move forward and try to give the message out again."
Ms Foster also remarked that there is a contrast between Sinn Féin’s attitude in the Republic compared to the north.
Dublin's health minister Dara Calleary and EU Commissioner Phil Hogan both resigned after attending the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner in Galway last month.
“Sinn Féin pushed very hard in the Republic of Ireland to have people acknowledge there was wrongdoing in relation to going to a golf dinner, but I think we all saw the scenes in west Belfast in relation to that funeral and the fact that regulations and guidance were breached at that time,” she said.
The first minister added: “There are investigations ongoing both at a police level and an Assembly level as well and we’ll have to see the outcome of all of that."
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