Veteran Sinn Féin politician and Stormont speaker Alex Maskey is set to step down from politics at the next assembly election.
The 69-year-old is Sinn Féin's longest serving representative and has been involved with the republican movement for around half a century.
Interned twice in the 1970s, the senior republican is currently speaker at the assembly, a role he has held since January last year.
A father-of-two, he is originally from north Belfast and previously worked as a barman and dock worker.
Later his career with Sinn Féin was marked by a series of significant firsts for his party.
In 1983 he was the first representative of his party elected to Belfast City Council, which at that time was a bastion of unionism.
In 2001 he claimed a seat for his party in the Laganbank area of south Belfast and the following year became the first republican to serve as Lord Mayor.
During his time in the role he laid a laurel wreath to remember those died during World War One, although he didn't take part in the main Somme ceremonies.
In the 2003 assembly elections Mr Maskey broke new ground when secured Sinn Féin's first assembly seat in south Belfast.
He later unsuccessfully contested the south Belfast Westminster seat.
The long-standing republican was also targeted by loyalists several times.
In 1987 he escaped death after being shot and seriously injured at his west Belfast home.
The house was also raked with gunfire a year later.
In 1993 his friend Alan Lundy was shot dead outside his house by the UDA.
He has also suffered other bouts of ill-health and in 2005 survived a heart attack.
Deputy First Minister and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O'Neill last night thanked Mr Maskey "for his years of dedicated service as a republican activist" and said "he has been a ferocious champion of the rights of communities within the assembly, in Belfast City Council and on the ground".
"During the Good Friday Agreement negotiations to achieve lasting peace on our island, Alex Maskey was central to the Sinn Féin team and he has served the people of south and west Belfast with absolute dedication and distinction since the establishment of the institutions.
"His level-headed approach and strong leadership have been exemplary in his position as the speaker of the assembly and has won respect from across the chamber.
"Republican activists of the calibre of Alex Maskey don't retire, Alex will remain a dedicated activist to deliver for the people of Belfast and to achieve a new and united Ireland for all."
In a statement this morning, Mr Maskey said it had been an honour over the last 23 years to serve as an MLA, initially for South Belfast and then for West Belfast.
"I am especially grateful for the opportunity the Assembly has given me to serve as Speaker," he added.
"I have said many times that the Assembly has to prove itself and it is important to me that the Assembly is seen to work as an institution.
"Since January 2020, there have been many issues to deal with including assisting the resumption of Assembly business and ensuring the Assembly could continue to function during the pandemic.
"Despite these challenges, it has also been possible to introduce a number of positive new developments including the expansion of support for Private Members' Bills and the establishment of our first Youth Assembly.
"I have appreciated the support of members, party leaders, party whips and Assembly Commission members throughout all of that work. In particular, I want to recognise that it has been a pleasure over the last 18 months to work closely with Assembly officials who have given me tremendous support."
Mr Maskey added there is "a lot of work" to do when the Assembly returns from recess in September, including a record number of Private Members' Bills.
"That is where my focus will be until then," he added.
