The Programme for Government is "long on rhetoric but short on substance", according to the Democratic Unionist Party.
Mr Nigel Dodds, one of the party's former Executive ministers, said the programme was "a mixture of empty aspirations and rehashed policies. The people of Northern Ireland will be entitled to wonder what all the money in this process has actually achieved." Mr Dodds also said the programme represented a "new high water mark for all-Ireland government" and merely served to "legitimise the presence of the representatives of armed terror at the heart of government".
"This Programme for Government represents the ongoing concessions to the insatiable demands of nationalism. The North-South arrangements not only dominate one of the core priorities for the Executive but also permeate each and every other priority," he said.
Sinn Fein welcomed the programme, with its president, Mr Gerry Adams, describing it as a milestone in the peace process and the process of conflict resolution.
Mr Adams said, however, that the scope of the programme was limited. "It is clearly not the radical programme needed," he said.
The limitations of the programme underlined the fact that the Assembly should see itself as transitional, he said. It should seek additional fund-raising powers instead of being "chained to the British Exchequer".
Mr Adams also called on the Government to provide funding for projects in the North which had a cross-Border or all-Ireland benefit.
The SDLP leader warmly welcomed the programme as a significant step forward for the future of Northern Ireland.
Mr John Hume added: "This is a very important and momentous day for Northern Ireland. It heralds the end of hand-me-down policies from Westminster and ushers in a period of growth, stability and development."
The UUP's Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment said yesterday was the most important day yet in the history of the Assembly. Sir Reg Empey said it was unfortunate there were still those who failed to see the benefits of devolution. The Alliance Party leader, Mr Sean Neeson, gave the programme a broad welcome but said the Executive had failed to tackle divisions in society. He said just one line was devoted to integrated education, and under housing there was no reference to community integration or mixed housing.
Mr David Irvine of the Progressive Unionist Party said he welcomed the programme, especially the strong focus on children. He said he was concerned about elements which mentioned use of private finance and public/private partnerships in infrastructure projects. These often gave the private sector a licence to print money and provide a low standard of services, he claimed.
Ms Monica McWilliams and Ms Jane Morrice of the Women's Coalition said they welcomed the Executive's new holistic approach to making policies.