Northern Ireland's first museums' policy - designed to guide the sector's development for the next 10 years - has been launched by culture minister Nelson McCausland.

McCausland expressed hope that Northern Ireland's museums will play an integral role in helping to address social inclusion and cohesion issues going forward. National Museums Northern Ireland (NMNI) and the Northern Ireland Museums Council helped to develop the new policy and will work with the government to deliver its aims.

McCausland said: "Our museums can make a valuable contribution to the economic, social and cultural life of Northern Ireland and I am confident that this policy addresses the challenges facing the sector. "[The policy] provides a necessary framework that will enable our museums sector to harness its resources and maximise its impact on our society."

Dan Harvey, chair of the board of trustees at NMNI, added: "The policy highlights the considerable potential of the museum sector to contribute to key priorities across government. "It is important, now more than ever, that the positive impact which museums can make on peoples' lives is recognised and resourced."