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.”
The complete record
Every one of 5,636 lines we hold for Michelle O'Neill, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 19 of 113.
“At times, things do not move as quickly as we all would want them to move. That can be true of all Ministers at different times. I am not here to point-score off anybody today; I am here to get business done.”
“I cannot remember the exact budget — I think that it oversees £1 million capital over a year — but we are assured that all public accountability mechanisms are in place for the board.”
“Its objectives are very much aligned with the development corporation's current remit, which includes the maintenance and management of the site. It also has to carry out essential health and safety works and support the existing tenants. The corporation continues as far as possible to maintain a state of readiness for future development, including continuing to consider possible approaches to the regeneration of the site and provide advice and options for the future as and when required. The board is dealt with in the same way as any other public body when it comes to value for money so is absolutely accountable for every penny spent. That is not something that we are concerned about.”
“Absolutely. We are very committed to having Air Ambulance on the site. Air Ambulance is an amazing charity that everybody knows. It works in partnership with the Department of Health to provide a helicopter emergency medical service from the site. It has been called out over 4,500 times. Its work speaks for itself. The corporation will continue to work with Air Ambulance, because there is potential for it to have a longer-term base there and move away from the current temporary situation.”
“There needs to be political agreement on how we move forward, but let us do that in a way that delivers benefits for everybody while dealing with the sensitivities about the site. I visited the site last year, along with the deputy First Minister. We met the board. I do not need to be convinced of what we could achieve on that site if we were to get political agreement.”
“Yes. As I said in my previous answer, it is an area that has massive potential, and we must really tap into that. You can see the regeneration of the site in the same vein as other transformation projects, such as Windsor Park, Kingspan Stadium, the Ebrington site, Crumlin Road Gaol and what we will see in Casement Park. Developing all those sites creates huge opportunities for us, and we must get on with that. They are economic game changers. They mean so much to the local community, even in the rate take and what that means for local investment in councils. They can be such game changers. <BR /> <BR />We know what the barriers are. We have to continue to try to make progress.”
“The site has the opportunity to be transformative. I want us to get there. We need a political agreement, obviously, to get there. I am working to make sure that we can, hopefully, get to that point. The board is doing its job and is working away to maintain the site and ensure that it is ready for development. There have also been some developments on the site. Its potential is as yet untapped, but we have spoken before in the House about that potential. I assure you that that is what I want to achieve. I will work to get the political agreement that is required to ensure that we can have the site opened up. The economic benefit that will come from it will be transformational.”
“We recognise the immense economic, historical and reconciliation potential of the site and are committed to working with the board to maximise that potential for the benefit of all. Pending decisions on the way forward, the development corporation is charged with maintaining and managing the site, carrying out essential health and safety works and supporting the existing tenants. The board's role is to provide leadership, strategic direction and guidance to ensure that it effectively discharges its obligations and fulfils the aims and objectives agreed with TEO. The board also seeks to maintain a state of readiness for future development. That includes continuing engagement with TEO officials to consider possible approaches to regeneration of the site and the provision of advice and options for the future.”
“, junior Minister Reilly will take the question.”
“Yes, the deputy First Minister will be there representing our office. I will not stand in the way of the deputy First Minister. She has her view, and I have mine. We can have respect for each other's view.”
“We will continue to drive on with the economic work to enhance our economy, grow investment and create jobs. That is front and centre of our Programme for Government and is what we are determined to do.”
“Yes. I have said that I absolutely do. If we reflect on our long-standing links and the roots that run very deep, we should be proud of the work that we have done to grow those relationships over the years, particularly the economic links. The US is our largest export market outside of Britain and is the largest source of high-value FDI, including in our priority sectors for future growth, so that economic work needs to continue. We can do that whilst taking a stand at a certain moment in time. <BR /> <BR />Caoimhe Archibald, as the Economy Minister, is leading delegations. The deputy First Minister and I will be in North Carolina to sign a memorandum of understanding between our Chamber of Commerce and the one in North Carolina. That, in itself, gives us a unique platform on which to sell our wares.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have engaged with many US presidents from both sides of the House. We have many friends on Capitol Hill who, in a bipartisan way, support the Good Friday Agreement. Those relationships will endure. We have strong relationships with trade unions in the United States. We have strong economic links with businesses. We attract investment and export. We have a mutual relationship that we can continue to build. I am assured by the fact that the deputy First Minister and I will attend in North Carolina. That is part of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce economic event. Our Economy Minister, Caoimhe Archibald, will be in Boston and New York. Our economic links will continue. However, there come times in our life when we should take a stand, and, at this moment in time, I side with humanity.”
“First, let me be clear: this is not about party politics. This is about humanity. This is about standing up against injustice. This is about taking a stand when a US Administration have decided to annex the people of Palestine off their land and when they have moved away from a two-state solution — a solution that we all should want to see delivered in the Middle East. I want to see peace and security for the Palestinians and the Israelis, and I want to use every international effort that is conceivably possible to work towards that agenda. Unfortunately, that is not the resolve of the current US Administration, so, at this point in time, I am taking a stand for humanity and against injustice. I can do that whilst advocating for our local economy, which is what I do.”
“As First Minister, I have taken the decision not to attend the events in Washington DC this year, but, together with the deputy First Minister, we will join the NI Chamber of Commerce trade delegation to North Carolina. The deputy First Minister has confirmed that she will go to Washington DC, and that programme is still in final development. We will, of course, be happy to report back to the Assembly Chamber once all invitations have been received and considered.”
“With all due respect to the Member, I doubt that the East-West Council will discuss Casement Park. I assure him that I raise the issue of Casement Park with the British Government at every turn.”
“I do not know an awful lot about the working of Intertrade UK, other than it is to be established. It is essential that any trade bodies work to iron out issues where they arise. That should be a principle that we all aspire to. We do not want disruption of trade, whether it is North/South or east-west. I do not want to see disruption of trade. I want free-flowing trade that allows our people to benefit by growing our economy and creating opportunities for growth. Where issues arise, let us find pragmatic solutions to them. We will work with whatever bodies are in place to ensure that that is the case.”
“We should say that, even in the absence of an East-West Council, we have had numerous opportunities to engage with ministerial colleagues from other Governments through the other forums set up for intergovernmental relations. In the past year, we have attended eight ministerial intergovernmental meetings, including meetings of the Interministerial Standing Committee, the Council of the Nations and Regions, with the Prime Minister and the heads of devolved Governments council, as well as British-Irish Council summits.”
“As the Member is aware, the purpose of the East-West Council is to strengthen cooperation between us and other parts of the UK by bringing together key representatives from the government, business, education, trade, transport and culture sectors and by encouraging collaboration between Ministers and industry experts. The arrangements and timings for meetings of the Council are, in the first instance, the responsibility of the British Government, and those will inevitably reflect the availability of their Ministers and ours. We are, however, considering a number of potential dates for the next meeting of the Council and hope to be able to confirm details in the near future.”
“With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will ask junior Minister Reilly to answer this question.”
“I am sure that we will furnish you with that information. I do not have the detail as to why you do not have it, but we will make sure that we get it to you.”
“<BR /> <BR />We can continue to further our economic links — grow our economy, create jobs and investment and do all such things — while, on this occasion, I take the principled position that I have.”
“We can do more than one thing at once. I can take the principled stance that I believe in, but I also believe in our strong roots in the US. Particularly for our economic prosperity, that is really important. Those roots run deep, and it is important that we continue to nurture them. It is also important that we continue to look for opportunities for our economy. That is why, over the next week, the deputy First Minister and I will be in North Carolina on what will be very much an economic mission. Alongside that, our Economy Minister will be in Boston and New York with Invest NI. That is, again, about drumming up trade and saying that we are very much open for business.”
“Therefore, for me, at this time, this is not about politics but about humanity and about doing the right thing.”
“No, I do not. It is important that, at moments in time, we take our opportunity to take a stance, and this was that time. The fundamental difference is that the US Administration have now moved away from what was a united two-state solution that we all want to see — peace and security for the Palestinians and peace and security for the Israelis. We want to see that solution found, and the only way that you will do that is by having dialogue and involving all partners. Unfortunately, that is not the view of this US Administration and this new president. They have taken a decision to move towards the mass expulsion of the Palestinian people, they have taken a decision to seize Palestinian lands and they have taken a decision to move away from that united position of a two-state solution.”
“The invitations that have been received to date include the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action leadership forum; the Ireland Funds national gala; the US Speaker's luncheon; the Washington Ireland Programme (WIP), which Members will be familiar with; the Ulster University breakfast event; and, over the weekend, late Saturday night, the White House reception invite as well.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Taoiseach is a different offering insofar as the Taoiseach is uniquely in a position where he will have the opportunity to engage directly with the US president. That is an opportunity that he has to take, because only he will have the opportunity to have that one-on-one time. Perhaps he can — I hope that he does — take the opportunity to drive home the message about the depth of feeling right across Ireland on what is happening in Palestine and on the recent commentary by the US Administration in particular on the taking of Palestinian lands and the removal of the Palestinian people off their lands. The fact that they have moved away from a two-state solution, which is a solution that we all want to see achieved, is something that he needs to be very firm on in any engagement with the US president.”
“I have taken the decision as First Minister not to attend events at the White House this year. That is my decision. It was a decision that I did not take lightly, but it was a decision that I took as a principled stance because I believed that it was the right thing to do at this time. There are times when there is a responsibility on all of us to call out injustice, and this was that moment. I am very comfortable with my decision, and I am equally comfortable with the fact that the deputy First Minister has a different view and will travel to be part of the White House reception and other events this year. That is entirely her call, and I am comfortable enough with that decision also.”
“You will also be aware that the deputy First Minister is travelling to Washington to undertake a series of engagements there.”
“As I have publicly stated, as First Minister, I have taken the decision not to travel to Washington DC over the St Patrick’s Day period this year. Junior Minister Reilly will also not be travelling to Washington, but, along with junior Minister Cameron, she will be travelling to Brussels to engage in St Patrick’s Day events with key stakeholders, undertaking a programme of engagements that I am sure both junior Ministers will be happy to update Members on after their visit. The deputy First Minister and I are joining an NI Chamber of Commerce trade delegation to North Carolina next week, where we will both be working hard to encourage investment here, to grow connections and to deliver on our prosperity agenda, as outlined in the new Programme for Government.”
“Certainly, I am committed to delivering and leading positive change. <BR /> <BR />Now we need to work together as elected representatives, as Members of the Assembly and across our whole society to get on with the job of delivery. We welcome all contributions from Members today, and we look forward to working collaboratively with you all going forward.”
“We will not be found wanting when it comes to doing everything that we can to deliver for people not only today but into the future. It is, ultimately, for all of us elected here to the Chamber. Politics is about people. It is about working together to make that real and positive difference in people's lives, families' lives, workers' lives and communities' lives. It is about ensuring that no one gets left behind. I will always do everything that I can to support you all in that endeavour. We face tough challenges ahead, no doubt, but we know that. Together, we can make a real difference in improving people's lives. Together, we can build a future for all who call here "home". No matter your background or where you come from, the Executive will have people's backs, and we will do everything that we can to keep leading.”
“We are committed to improving the well-being or quality of life of everyone across our society by keeping track of that information, so that we can always understand where we are, monitor our progress and address the things that matter most. We will update our actions annually. We will keep everyone informed about the Budget position, and we will publish annual reports. We will be open and transparent about the progress that we are making, and we will take every possible step to ensure that the programme is delivering what we set out to do. <BR /> <BR />We bring the Programme for Government to the House today as another step forward in our efforts to improve people's lives. It is about making a positive difference and making things better for people.”
“We believe that the Programme for Government reflects the shared ambitions of the Executive, and I commend all Ministers for their commitment and the collaborative approach that they took to the development of the agreement of the programme. The public are relying on each of us to act in their interests. I hope that the Programme for Government shows the public that we are willing to work together to do right by them. <BR /> <BR />As we continue the vital work of delivery, we want to be open about how we do. That is why we have developed a well-being framework that looks at progress under our missions of "People", "Planet", "Prosperity" and that cross-cutting commitment to peace.”
“Those investments will also improve our sporting infrastructure, help to create a healthier society and attract world-class events. <BR /> <BR />All of us in the Executive agree that our obligations do not end with this mandate. To realise our vision of a brighter future, it is vital that we lay the foundations needed for longer-term improvements. Shaping a better tomorrow is an important part of the programme. In it, we have set three long-term missions: people, planet and prosperity. Those missions are underpinned by an overarching and cross-cutting commitment to peace. They provide us with a driving ambition for the future and a lens through which to prioritise and ensure that we deliver improved well-being, long-term sustainability and a thriving economy.”
“We are grateful to every individual and organisation that took the time to respond. Your feedback has helped to strengthen the Programme for Government, because we have listened to what you had to say. As a result, we have introduced targets and annual objectives that will be updated each year in alignment with our Budget. We have stepped up our commitments to all communities and are doing more for older people and rural communities. <BR /> <BR />As well as our nine priorities, we recognised the need to build new foundations and improve our infrastructure to facilitate delivery. By investing in water and waste water, roads and transport, we will encourage businesses to invest, enable housebuilding and support greater energy efficiency and affordability.”
“I am pleased to say that good progress has been made to lay the foundations of that transformation. We have established a new delivery unit in the Executive Office to provide support to the Executive in reforming and transforming our struggling public services. That work is underpinned by a £235 million transformation fund that will make much-needed investments to deliver better, more accessible and more efficient public services. <BR /> <BR />The Programme for Government does not belong to just the Executive; it belongs to every one of us here. We want the plan to deliver for everyone, which is why the consultation period was so important. A total of 1,400 responses was received. That is a greater response than to any previous Programme for Government consultation.”
“We all can agree that economic prosperity is a game changer for every community. <BR /> <BR />Those are all major issues that face our society and that we are committed to tackling head-on. That is why they are now reflected in the Programme for Government as our priorities. It is a programme that sets out what matters most today. I believe that the Programme for Government shows what we need to prioritise to make this a better place to live, work and invest in. However, we know that, to do that, we must invest in and improve our public services. <BR /> <BR />Every Member of the Chamber is aware of the challenging financial context in which we are operating. Budgets are exceptionally tight. That is why reform and transformation are central to the Programme for Government.”
“Somebody commented on that day that the challenges that so many families face throughout the North are the same no matter where they come from or what they believe. It is those shared problems that we have to focus on. It is those shared problems that blight too many lives and that we can work together on constructively and urgently to address. I also said that, as an Executive, we would not always agree on everything, but there are many things that we will agree on, and those are the things that we should focus on. We agreed that families need support to deal with the cost of childcare. We agreed that our teachers need support and that our public-sector workers need properly paid. We all agree that drugs destroy communities and that the police need resources to put the dealers out of business.”
“I also take the opportunity to welcome Verona Murphy, Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, to the Assembly on such a significant day. It is significant because today is a significant milestone for the Executive as we introduce the finalised Programme for Government (PFG). <BR /> <BR />On taking up office, we promised to create hope and opportunity. We pledged to work for everyone and reassured people that we would be on their side. We said that we would work together and show that power-sharing could succeed and that, under our leadership, this would be an Executive of partnership and an Executive of progress. <BR /> <BR />On 3 February, it was one year since devolution was restored and I took up my position as First Minister.”
“The Executive met again this morning and got a read-out from every Department and Minister on their area of responsibility. This is very much a joined-up and collective effort, and every single Department is doing its best to assist people. We all want to get to the same point, folks, and we all have the same objective, which is to get people reconnected and back to their normal lives.”
“We are acutely aware of the significant impact that the storm is having on all households, particularly people who are still to be connected. I have set out for the House everything that is being done, not least the fact that the multi-agency approach continues, we are very much moving into recovery mode, we are prioritising those who are more vulnerable and we are doing everything that we can to ensure that people are connected as quickly as possible. We are leaving no stone unturned in seeking additional support, whether that be in the form of engineers, helicopters — we have secured the use of four to help NIE with its work — or batteries. We are doing absolutely everything that we can to get in every single resource that we can. The Executive's shared objective has been to get people connected.”
“<BR /> <BR />We are not there yet and we still have a bit of road to travel to get people connected, but I am fairly certain that if we carry on in that vein, we will, hopefully, have people connected as quickly as possible. There are going to be difficulties towards the end, particularly for those people who are without power connections. NIE has told us that the speed that we have seen over the past four days will not continue into the next four days. All that I can say to everybody is that the Executive, and Emma and I, have been pushing NIE extremely hard to ensure that everything that can be done will be done.”
“We can all accept that these events that we call "unprecedented" will happen more often, so we have to be able to respond and we have to meet the evolving situation. We have tried-and-tested civil contingency arrangements here. I imagine that they have already been published, but I am happy to share them with you if they have not been. There are structures that kick in, and those structures worked over the weekend. It was very clear to me in all our multi-agency meetings that we could see everybody getting down to business. Not only did every individual carry out their role but they were coordinating and talking across each other, which was very important to the response. I commend the civil contingencies group for its work thus far.”
“All our agencies worked together in advance of the red warning. All the preparatory work was in place. All our messaging and information was ramped up as soon as we were aware that there was going to be a red warning, which the Met Office confirmed early on Thursday morning. We were already working behind the scenes on preparedness. The operation that kicked in in the aftermath of the storm was so effective because of all the preparation and planning that was done. <BR /> <BR />There are always lessons to be learned, and we will have plenty of time to do that in the aftermath. For now, however, we are focused on restoring people's power and water and getting them the support that they need, particularly those who are more vulnerable.”
“I assume that it comes under the Department of Infrastructure. As you will appreciate, it was an emerging situation. We had just come out of a red alert period, and it was not safe for staff to be out between 6.00 am and 2.00 pm. They then moved at pace to alert people. I imagine that it was imperfect, but the staff definitely went above and beyond. They tried their very best to respond as quickly as they could.”
“NIE has a critical care line for anyone who is in any doubt about those issues. <BR /> <BR />I was taken aback at the weekend to learn that meter readers were going door to door in some cases. That is commendable, and it showed a bit of agility in how to adapt to a crisis. It is important that we reach the more vulnerable people as quickly as possible. We are in touch with all service providers and are trying to push them to restore services. We need to have people back on electricity, water and communications. We will continue to push all the service providers for quick restoration times.”
“I cannot give a date for the water connection. All I can say is that we are working to push them to ensure that everybody is connected as quickly as possible. That is why we are looking at the provision of generators, for example, to try to get water connected to the last approximately 2,000 people who are still without water. I encourage all MLAs to use the NI Water contact to flag up any vulnerable people, particularly those who are medically dependent, if they are not already on the register or being supported, because we are trying to prioritise those people. Over the weekend, I dealt with at least one family, as, I am sure, most Members did, with somebody who was dependent on oxygen or getting a connection. It is a particularly challenging time. The Department of Health assures us that it is doing all that it can within its remit.”
“I will have to check with our strategic contingency group about any messaging in that regard. To be blunt, I do not know whether there is any such messaging, but, obviously, you would want people to discard any food that is not safe to eat and not to make themselves ill. I will take that away as a point to see whether there is any messaging, but I am not aware of any at this point.”
“Insurance companies should do the right thing and pay out. That is a question that should not have to be answered. It is not acceptable for an insurance company to run for cover when people find themselves in crisis. I send a very strong message from the House that we want all insurance companies to cooperate with the people who pay their fees every year. When people need them, insurance companies should respond accordingly. If we feel that it is appropriate to make an intervention, I am more than happy to do so.”