Michelle O'Neill
Mid Ulster · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“We are shocked and deeply saddened for both the victim of the horrific incident in north Belfast and the people who have been impacted on by the disorder that we have witnessed since. There is absolutely no justification for racism, violence or intimidation.”
“It is the latest chapter in a political psychodrama. It has been playing out in Westminster for forever and a day but particularly over the past 10 years. Tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of Brexit, which inflicted so much damage to the wider economy. We are now on the verge of having a seventh British Prime Minister in 10 years.”
“We cannot look at things in isolation. Whether it is the refugee integration strategy, the framework or the legislation, all those things need to move together and at pace.”
“I agree with the Member about the ugly language that was used to describe some people in our community. Like the Member, I have met many people from the black and ethnic minority community in recent times. I do that on an ongoing basis, but I did so recently given what happened over the last number of weeks.”
“There is not just one answer to it, as the Member knows. We need to come at it from every angle. That could be a policing response initially, for which additional funding was secured. I agree that this is the third year in a row in which we have had that type of racist behaviour on our streets. Likewise, I would describe it as a pogrom.”
“Building on that progress, the Executive Office is contributing £3·3 million towards the Derry on the North Atlantic Museum, which is due to open in 2027 and will further enhance Ebrington’s role as a heritage and tourism destination. <BR /> <BR />Ebrington is also continuing to develop as a vibrant events space.”
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“Dual market access is a prize that we need to grab together. The fact that we have access to both markets makes us the envy of many other places; in fact, there are companies that have, of late, pointed to dual market access contributing to their growth. That is positive. The Murphy report, which was published last week, states that we need to avail ourselves of and tap into that dual market access and to sell our wares. The heart of the economic strategy is very much the promotion of dual market access so that we continue to see its benefits in the time ahead. We need to work to support our industries across the board, and the Economy Minister is doing a great job in that regard.”
“Belfast City Council is on the verge of adopting a transformative Irish language policy that will be the first of its kind in the North and will further improve the visibility of the language. <BR /> <BR />We can and must do more. We must keep working at it. We need to see an Irish language strategy being brought forward by the Communities Minister. Political will and genuine cooperation will be required to ensure that the language thrives for generations to come.”
“I totally agree that there is so much more to do in order to build on the huge strides forward and allow the language to grow. There are so many children being educated through the medium of Irish today. They want to see their language and to hear their language in the community in which they live. That ongoing revival and the vibrancy of the language and the culture is something to be celebrated. It creates huge opportunity as well for our society. <BR /> <BR />The appointment of the Irish Language Commissioner and the advancement of that role are imminent. The role that the commissioner will play in promoting the language and ensuring that it is protected across our public services in everyday life will be an important interjection to advance things.”
“We all have a clear duty to play a positive and proactive role in ensuring that the language grows for generations to come. We need to work together to make sure that we do that and to ensure that it is invested in.”
“It was really heartening to see the huge crowds in Dublin at the weekend. It shows the vibrancy of the Irish language community. Taking to the streets to march for equality and fairness across the board is a testament to the strength and the energetic revival of the Irish language here. Gaelic continues to thrive in communities across the island. However, as has been highlighted widely — this was the purpose of the large rally on Saturday — it needs much more investment North and South. It is also something to be celebrated. There can be no complacency or contempt from those in the Executive who have responsibility for its development. In that regard, I want to work with all parties and Executive colleagues to ensure that the Irish language is fully supported and allowed to flourish.”
“Being victim- and survivor-centred will be key to its success; I absolutely agree with you. However, the British Government chose to launch the framework jointly with the Irish Government last Friday. We see the framework, but there is then a period between that and seeing what the legislative text looks like in terms of the make-up and remit of the body and how it operates. We still have not had sight of that. I do not believe that anybody has. That is not good enough. They should have talked to us about it. I know that all parties would have engaged across the board, but the Executive Office should, of course, have been consulted. However, that falls at the feet of the British Government in terms of their approach.”
“As I said earlier, the framework was published only on Friday, so we do not yet understand what the legislative text looks like. We need to understand that. There will, of course, be a role for the Victims and Survivors Service in supporting all victims and survivors. We cannot engage on what the remit of the body is until we see what the legislative text says, but we will do so in due course.”
“I will have to help you out with a wee biology lesson. I was born a biological baby girl; I grew into a teenager; and I am now a fully fledged woman. There are also trans women in our community. If women can be supportive and inclusive of trans women, you should also. However, I fear, as the trans community fears, that all that you are interested in is stoking up fear, tensions and hurt. Have a bit of sensitivity and decency.”
“That is absolutely ridiculous, and you are making a show of yourself. You are fascinated with the definition of a woman, and I think that that says a lot about you.”
“Do you not see the hypocrisy of going against the decision of the democratically elected local councillors? I back the councillors and their decision, because it was right and appropriate. You should also respect the council's decision, because it was taken in the best interest of the community.”
“The Member will know that I have made my position on the matter clear. The democratically elected local councillors know best what is good in their own community. Given the history of the British Army in Derry, I stand over saying that I think that that was the right call for them to make about what happens at a jobs fair. If anybody wants to join any part of the British military, they can do so anywhere else. They can apply online or in whatever way they wish, but the sensitivities around Derry are not lost on people.”
“I have made my position very clear to the Member. You are on the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, and that is the forum in which we can discuss those issues. I am the First Minister, there is a deputy First Minister, and it is a joint office. I have never shied away from that. I also used the joint office title previously. Let the AERC do its work. You sit on the Committee, so you are familiar with it.”
“The Member will know that that is under the remit of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, which is actively working through the matter. We all fought the election on the rules as they stand, and when we get to the point at which potential change is brought forward, under that Committee's remit, we can all make our choice about where we might go with it next.”
“Junior Minister Reilly will answer that question.”
“It is not really related to the question, but I will say that I have made my position clear on the jobs fair. I think that the locally elected councillors made the right call.”
“Those announcements have been underlined by the largest ever Invest NI contribution towards research. That is regional balance in action. It is us delivering and doing things. That does not mean that we rest on our laurels. Those advancements are great, but we have much more to do. I will work with all Ministers to ensure that more is delivered for the north-west.”
“For the first time ever, right at the heart of the Executive's economic strategy, regional balance is writ large. It is an objective for Invest NI, and we can very much see that starting to be borne out. I therefore encourage you to be more positive about what is being achieved in the wider north-west. Regional balance is now at the heart of Executive strategy. We have seen the increase in the number of applicants to Magee and the increase in investment, which I just mentioned. You may want to wish those developments away, but they are positive ones, and we will continue to build on them even more in the time ahead. I look at EY's announcement of 120 jobs and the announcement from Seagate last week of a £115 million investment in the north-west.”
“I am determined to continue to work with all Ministers around the Executive table to see how we can deliver even more in the north-west, but the fact is that we have placed regional balance at the heart of the economic strategy. We saw the headlines last week that there is a 21% increase in the number of people applying to Magee. There has been more investment in Magee in the past year than there has been in the past 10 years. There is the city deal, the job announcements that I talked about and the investment in City of Derry Airport. The north-west is thriving. It is a real economic hub and an engine on which to be built even further.”
“Thank you for that question. I did not know that we had visitors from the north-west: you are very welcome. <BR /> <BR />Putting regional balance at the heart of the economic strategy here was a deliberate approach to ensure that we unlock the north-west's full potential and that investment is shared across the board. I sometimes listen to a lot of negativity, but there is so much positivity around the north-west right now. So many things have been and will continue to be delivered, including, even in the past number of months, the Seagate and EY announcements. We were at the Foyle port last week; its plans are also amazing and will make the area an even more wonderful place in which to live, invest and study.”
“We are told that the full transfer is complex and is taking time to complete, but I can tell you that it is all in train and is being actively worked on.”
“The Member is a representative of the north-west, and it is important to make sure that we underline the sheer scale of investment that there has been in the north-west recently. We should all be buoyed by that positivity. <BR /> <BR />You mentioned the site's being transferred to the council. That process has been ongoing for a considerable period. Realising the Ebrington site's full potential for the whole city and the north-west generally is a shared priority across multiple stakeholders in the north-west. We are focused on delivering on those shared ambitions and on improving processes and partnerships to achieve them. Discussions are ongoing with the council to progress the site's transfer.”
“The Department will continue to work with tenants and stakeholders to showcase Ebrington, ensuring that it supports the region's rich creativity, innovation, talent and skills and plays its part in the site's future growth.”
“A few months later, that was followed by Ernst & Young (EY) opening its new north-west regional office at the plaza. Even in the past week, there has been the Seagate announcement. The site has become a vibrant hub for creative, cultural, sporting, charitable and other community-led events. The Executive Office has also committed £3·3 million of funding towards the Derry North Atlantic Museum, which is a key part of the overall redevelopment of the square. <BR /> <BR />The junior Ministers are looking forward to visiting Ebrington later this week to see construction get under way on that important new regional visitor attraction.”
“The investment in Ebrington aligns with the Executive's vision of building a strong, sustainable and regionally balanced economy. We are committed to investing in the north-west, and we are already seeing the positive outworkings of that commitment, including the expansion of Magee, the city deals and the projects that are being delivered as part of Urban Villages funding. <BR /> <BR />Specifically, since taking on the Ebrington site in 2016, the Executive Office has invested over £37 million to develop and regenerate it. The investment, along with £40 million of private finance, has been transformative for the site, attracting a variety of new businesses and creating more than 360 jobs. In March, we officially opened the new headquarters of software consultancy firm Alchemy Technology Services at the state-of-the-art Ebrington Plaza.”
“That is the reasonable approach to take in the drafting of our new international relations strategy. We look on, aghast, at how people, particularly in London, have decided to wine and dine the president of the United States whilst his actions are clearly facilitating what is happening in Gaza. You cannot sell your soul for a pound. Any of us who have a soul and a heart would look at what is happening in Gaza and understand why we should not engage with those who are responsible for inflicting that horror and pain on the Gazan people.”
“This cannot be described as a war: it is genocide. It is genocide, ethnic cleansing and state-directed killing. We all need to do everything that we can to end the horror for the Palestinian people, but that can only come about when the international community stands together and says no. We need to see an immediate ceasefire; we need to see humanitarian aid; we need to see a release of all prisoners and hostages; and we need to see an immediate end to that man-made starvation. That is where the focus of the international community must be in order to bring it to an end.”
“Yes, I absolutely agree, because anyone with an objective mind, seeing how the situation continues to deteriorate in Gaza, will see it as completely unconscionable, intolerable and absolutely inhumane. How did we arrive at a position where women and children are being murdered daily and the international community stands by and does nothing? How did we arrive at a point where a man-made famine has been unleashed on an innocent population in Gaza with no repercussions? How are leaders of a state that is carrying out genocide allowed to be openly and unapologetically welcomed around the world? <BR /> <BR />This is the biggest humanitarian disaster of our generation. It is unfolding right in front of our eyes, yet Israel continues to act, to be let off the hook and, even worse, encouraged in some quarters.”
“I value our Irish-American links very much. Indeed, successive American Administrations have been very much part of bringing about our peace process, but you are referring to a banquet in Windsor last week that I chose not to attend, and rightly so: I do not see how a benefit would be achieved from attending a state banquet at a time when the children of Gaza are being starved to death. I made my view on that issue known. I did not block the deputy First Minister from attending. She went to the thing, and that was absolutely her call. I am very comfortable with my decision.”
“We have used meetings in the USA, China, Japan, Germany and France to promote our place and show that we are open to partnerships that support our economic growth. The deputy First Minister and I led a business delegation to North Carolina in March, supporting engagement by businesses and academia. This is a good example of how we can work in partnership with stakeholders here to deliver on our shared objectives and build lasting relationships that deliver benefits for all.”
“Engaging with leaders from across these islands and internationally is very important if we are to promote this place and deliver across the full range of our Programme for Government ambitions. Since the restoration of the institutions, ensuring that we represent our interests and optimise the opportunities to grow a globally competitive and sustainable economy has been at the heart of everything that we have been doing. We have engaged with the Governments in London and Dublin to discuss how global developments, such as changes to international tariffs, could impact on our region and to ensure that our interests are understood and represented. <BR /> <BR />Over the past year, the deputy First Minister and I have met a range of leaders from the world’s largest economies, both at home and abroad.”
“With your permission, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, I will ask junior Minister Reilly to answer the question.”
“All I can say is that our strategy for victims and survivors is to support all people who have been injured throughout the conflict. It is important that it is all-inclusive and that we close the door to nobody. I trust that the strategy that we have is the right strategy. I encourage new applications to come forward, as we opened our new applications process in August.”
“If, in the aftermath of the framework, we can tweak it in respect of the needs of victims and survivors, that is what we should do.”
“The strategy will ensure that the right to trauma-informed and victim-centred services is in place to empower and support victims and survivors and contribute to building a shared and peaceful future. It also sets out the specific issues affecting victims and survivors, with particular focus on their needs. <BR /> <BR />It is inevitable that the Victims and Survivors Service will have received an increased level of communication, particularly given the publication of the framework on Friday. That will continue. It is important that we have a service that supports all people to understand what the legislative text sets out regarding the bodies. We will have to keep that under review to make sure that we are fit for purpose. The strategy is the right strategy.”
“As I acknowledged, we are all trying to work out exactly what this means legislatively. The framework, when translated into legislation, could look completely different from what has been said in the framework document. I want us to understand that. I hope that they move to publish that legislation — I urge them to do so — so that we can all look at it. <BR /> <BR />We have a strategy for victims and survivors. We have just launched our new strategy, and we have opened the funding call for the 2026-28 victim support programme. That call will close on 6 November to ensure that any new programmes are in place by 1 April next year. That central activity is needed to implement many of the commitments in the strategy to ensure that our services are appropriate and meet the changing needs of victims and survivors.”
“<BR /> <BR />I would much prefer it if the Member, rather than looking back constantly over his shoulder and trying to score points, worked with me and others to find a way to build a brighter and better future and worked with everybody to make sure that we have a way of dealing with the past that is inclusive and for which we get maximum buy-in across society. That is my endeavour. I want us to deal with the past and unburden today's generation from yesterday. The only way that we can do that is by working together and by ensuring that the legislation is human-rights-compliant and, hopefully, commands maximum support from all victims and survivors. When I speak of "victims", I mean all victims.”
“The Member will be aware that both Governments launched their joint framework last week. All the parties will take time to review that. Unfortunately, without having the legislative text, it is hard for us to pass proper judgement on what the framework will do and how it will deliver. Ultimately, it needs to be inclusive, and it needs to command the support of the victims and survivors — all victims and survivors. It also has to be human-rights-compliant. Until we see the legislation, we cannot properly assess that.”
“All pre-employment checks have been completed. We now need the public appointments to be made, and we need to make sure that the board has its full complement. I am determined to ensure that that is done without further delay.”
“I concur with that and fully recognise the vital role that the Victims and Survivors Service plays in supporting individuals across our society. I am grateful for the continued dedication of the current board. I certainly agree that it is suboptimal that a permanent chair and a full complement of board members are still not in place. <BR /> <BR />The Member raised the issue of the delay in making appointments. By way of explanation, which, I believe, I have given in the Chamber before, interviews for the post concluded on 11 March 2024, and, as per the Commissioner for Public Appointments code of practice, we then received the unranked list of successful candidates on 26 March. On 19 June, we issued our list of preferred candidates, and, on 21 June, the candidates were informed by HR Connect that they had been successful.”
“However, the board remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible. It will also continue to work with the representative groups to ensure that feedback is taken on board about issues that are encountered. I do not have the number of applications that have been declined, but I will make sure that you get that in writing.”
“As of the week commencing 15 September, 11,853 applications had been submitted to the victims' payments scheme. Payments totalling almost £108 million have been made to all eligible applicants, offering meaningful recognition of the harm that they have suffered. With the scheme now set to close for new applications in August 2026, I take the opportunity to strongly encourage anyone who may be eligible to get their application submitted before that deadline, and I will say again that support is available through a number of victims and survivors' representative groups for anyone who needs help with the application process. <BR /> <BR />The cases are complex and involve complex applications. Given the historical nature of many of the incidents, the applications present a challenge to those who assess them.”
“In addition, in partnership with its partner organisations, VSS has delivered health and well-being support and services to over 12,500 victims and survivors per year in local communities, with the vast majority of that support being provided to those who have been impacted by conflict here, which is more than 12,000 people. Alongside that, over the past five years, VSS and its community partners have also provided application support to over 7,000 individuals in relation to the victims' payments scheme.”
“With your indulgence, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, I wish Deborah Erskine well on the birth of her wee baby, Olivia. Deborah posted on social media yesterday and described her as her "wee heart warrior", so I am sure that everyone is mindful of her family at this time, and I wish them the best. <BR /> <BR />The Victims and Survivors Service supports victims and survivors of the Troubles/conflict, historical institutional abuse, mother-and-baby homes, Magdalene laundries and workhouses. Support and services are provided both directly by the VSS and through 47 community and voluntary sector partner organisations. Over the past five full years of delivery, VSS has supported an average of 7,000 individuals per year across three delivery areas.”
“— when we get Casement Park delivered, imagine what it will mean in terms of the sporting spectacular that we have in the Gaelic Athletic Association calendar. Every summer, to have the Ulster final in Casement Park will be amazing, and I look forward to that day.”
“I am looking forward to going to Croke Park, obviously, to support the county team, but imagine what that could do. If we could get Casement Park delivered —”
“To those who advocate for investment in sport, I say let us join together and invest in all sport, because that will be a win for everybody in society. I want Casement Park to be delivered. I want the funding to be agreed across the board and the stadium to be built. I also want funding for the Northern Ireland Football Fund and other sports. If everybody joins together in investing in local sports, imagine what we could achieve. It is a win-win for society as a whole.”
“Yes, absolutely. The £50 million that we secured from the British Government is a new milestone for the redevelopment of Casement Park. It creates momentum for the project. It is time for all partners to work together with funding from the British Government, the Irish Government, the Executive and the GAA. At every turn and at every meeting that I have had at Irish Government, British Government and Executive level, I have continued to drive that project forward. As the Member knows, the project will be a game-changer for the Gaels of Antrim and across the piece. It is an investment in sport and local communities. I want all sports to thrive. I want us to invest in all sports, and that will require additional investment.”
“Yes. Unfortunately, in recent weeks and months, we have seen an increase in that behaviour, particularly in shared housing projects where flags are being erected against the wishes of the local community. That has to be called out for what it is: intimidation. Nobody should regard that behaviour as in any way acceptable. The Member is absolutely right about the need for robust condemnation of that intimidation. All of us in political leadership need to step up and call it out for what it is: in lots of cases, it is sectarianism and racism. I have often said, in the Chamber and outside, that racism and sectarianism are two sides of the one coin.”
“Yes, of course: I absolutely agree. There is nothing acceptable or normal about that type of display — the burning of flags and political posters at bonfires. It is something that we have come to see every year. The threats and regalia that accompany some of that behaviour are also totally unacceptable. It needs to be called out, and there needs to be political leadership in calling it out for what it is: in many instances, it is hate.”
“All options are on the table: the Infrastructure Minister has been very forthcoming in saying so, and I stand by that. All options must be on the table, including appeal, amendments to the legislation and, potentially, new legislation. Let us look at all the options. The Department for Infrastructure has sought advice from legal teams, and we are seeking advice from the Attorney General. It is important that we get the correct solution and remedy, because it is about us being able to do good things to protect our environment and to deliver on capital projects. I think that we can find a solution.”