A SINN Féin minister who stood aside nearly five months ago for health reasons appears to be making her first moves towards a full return to public life.
Deirdre Hargey temporarily stood down as Stormont's communities minister in June, saying that she was to undergo surgery and needed time to recover.
The South Belfast MLA has maintained a relatively low profile since then, with party colleague Carál Ní Chuilín taking on her ministerial role in the meantime.
But yesterday Sinn Féin issued one of its first press releases from Ms Hargey since June.
Ms Hargey was welcoming a council decision to refuse plans for high-rise office blocks affecting her constituents.
She described the refusal as a "victory for the people" and for the Market area of South Belfast.
Ms Hargey is expected to return to her ministerial role in the near future.
The former Belfast lord mayor has had a rapid rise through party ranks, having been co-opted as an MLA last December and appointed a Stormont minister just weeks later as devolution was restored.
When she stood aside in June, Ms Hargey had hoped she would be able resume her ministerial responsibilities "in a number of weeks following my treatment and recovery".
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill at the time wished Ms Hargey a speedy recovery and expressed hope that she would be "back behind her desk as soon as possible".
