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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“I encourage the Member, even at this late stage, to do the decent thing and the right thing, because the society that I live in is not reflected in the images that were beamed all around the world. That is not who we are. The vast majority in the Chamber will agree with that.”
“It is important that anybody who holds an elected office be responsible in how they speak. It is really important that they be responsible for the messages that they communicate, because those messages can add to the tensions on our streets. Anybody in the House who does anything to inflame tensions should be ashamed of themselves. Anybody in the House who holds elected office who does not set out the facts as they are and instead gets involved in misinformation and disinformation should also be ashamed of themselves. <BR /> <BR />We all want to see controlled immigration; we need the Irish Government to work with the British Government and vice versa. There are issues that need to be resolved, and we have raised them with the responsible Ministers because it is not a devolved matter.”
“We have continued our engagement with local leaders. We have reinstated the crisis fund and have released funding of £400,000 for the planned interventions programme, which is engaging 1,400 young people. In addition, as I referenced earlier, we have instructed officials to produce proposals for the immediate term and the longer term. We then have the work that we are doing on the framework, which I have just discussed. It will take a combination of all those things to weed out the racism that we see in our society.”
“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. We have to do things in the here and now to respond to what has happened, but we are also looking urgently at what we can do into the future. <BR /> <BR />If we can predict that it will happen, which is a really uncomfortable thing to say, we have to do everything that we can. That is why, in the first instance, strong political condemnation was required. The PSNI obviously took the lead on the policing response, but the Executive met the racial equality subgroup. We met council hubs.”
“I want to work with all Ministers around the Executive table to ensure that we have the right investment package to allow us to build more homes, to unblock waste water infrastructure connections and to do everything else that makes it possible for us to build homes.”
“I have been critical of Mears also, as has the deputy First Minister. We have raised that as an issue. As the Member knows, immigration policy is not devolved, but we have taken every opportunity to raise concerns with the relevant Ministers. <BR /> <BR />On housing supply more generally, we are all of one mind here that we need to build more homes. I want to live up to the commitment that we made in the Programme for Government. That is why we are in a battle for the Budget. Despite all the shenanigans in Westminster again today, we are at the bottom of the pile of priorities when it comes to getting a Budget that is fair and reflective of what we need here in order to build more homes. <BR /> <BR />I stand over the Programme for Government commitment to build more homes.”
“That is an awful indictment of society, so we all need to be strong in ensuring that we do everything that we can, and I hope that the framework gives us a chance to do so.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is crucial that we hear directly from those ethnic minority communities, because we have to understand what their lives are like and what their experience is and then try to find ways in which to have a more cohesive society and ways in which to support them. It is about ensuring that their voices are heard and reflected in the framework and that we can make a real, positive difference for them and their families, because that is what politics has to be about: making a difference. <BR /> <BR />I am sure that many Members have engaged with members from the black and ethnic minority community in recent weeks. Some of the stories that I heard were heartbreaking, such as a parent explaining to a six-year-old why people hate them.”
“Yes. It is so important that the voices of those with lived experience are taken into account, because, ultimately, the framework has to be about making a difference to their lives and how they live. As I indicated, we met the racial equality subgroup in Stormont in the past few weeks. We have also met people in the community in north Belfast, including representatives from ethnic minority communities, all of whom had been impacted on by the racist attacks that we saw on our streets. I personally wanted to offer my full support to the and to say that we will do everything that we can to weed out the ugliness that we see in pockets across our society.”
“The Member makes a valid point. Different areas have different challenges, so there needs to be flexibility in the work that we do across councils. We have to first be consistent in having strong messaging against racism and other forms of hate that we see in society. <BR /> <BR />Our council hubs are stood up at times of crisis, but it is important, as we proceed, to reflect on two things: how to help people in the immediate aftermath of what has happened; and how we can bring forward programmes and work with our councils, for example, on diversionary activity for young people, and ensure that our councils are a bit more consistent. The Member makes a good point, which we will consider in the framework discussions and in the immediate response to what happened last week.”
“Officials are analysing responses with a view to revising the draft framework to take on board the feedback received, as is standard with any draft policy. Once the process has completed, the final framework will be subject to Executive agreement.”
“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. Entire communities have been left frightened and shaken, and the damage done will take time to repair. We recently met members of the racial equality subgroup to listen to and learn from accounts of how the disorder has impacted on people and communities. <BR /> <BR />Any final framework will be important for setting the longer-term vision and priorities for tackling racial inequalities and race relations issues. The public consultation on the draft framework for race relations has received over 700 responses and a wealth of input through engagement with our minority communities.”
“We continue to make that case. It is not credible that you have a one business sitting on a 9% VAT rate and a neighbouring business sitting on 20%. That is a competitive disadvantage. At a time when just the cost of doing business is really challenging, we need to create a better and more level playing field for businesses. We will continue to make that case. We assure you that we will not miss an opportunity. The Department of Finance and the Finance Minister continue to raise that issue with the Treasury as well.”
“It was great to be in Fermanagh, where the deputy First Minister and I took the opportunity to engage with a range of hospitality businesses, even out on the lough. It was really heartening to see the positivity of those businesses, albeit that there are also big challenges, not least the fact that there is not a level playing field when it comes to VAT. We told the businesses that we had made the case directly to the British Government about creating a level playing field or at least giving us a pilot on VAT so that we can see what difference that would make. <BR /> <BR />We want businesses in Fermanagh to thrive. We do not want them just to survive; we want them to thrive. Individual businesses have their big plans. It does not make any sense that the local hospitality sector is at a disadvantage compared with their neighbours.”
“As I said, we have an ambitious piece of work on the all-island strategic rail review, and the 25-year plan sets out clearly where we need to target our investment to make a real difference. We have already made huge, practical strides forward, not least the eight additional hourly train services that we announced recently and the fact that that service has been availed of in such significant numbers. The investment of £500 million is tangible and concrete and shows our commitment to rail. The next step in delivering the objectives of the rail review is to develop joined-up governance arrangements. Then, we, as a collective Executive, will need to target capital investment at the infrastructure projects that we want to see delivered. I certainly want to see the fulfilment of the all-island strategic rail review.”
“They are not centralised in one area. There has been tourism growth in the Member's own backyard of Fermanagh, in particular. We have a lot of really exciting opportunities ahead of us. Whether it is the Fleadh Cheoil in Belfast or the Derry Halloween festival, a number of really huge events are happening across our island. Events such as those that we saw last week are so disheartening and saddening not only because of their impact on those who were targeted but because of the reputation and the world image of this place that they give us. I am sure that everyone in the House would concur that what we saw on our television screens last week does not reflect who we are as a people. We want to send that message very clearly.”
“As I have said, tourism is very much an all-Ireland sector. Tourism Ireland does an excellent job in marketing the island internationally. Due to recent global events, we have, unfortunately, seen a dip in international tourism after many, many years of substantial growth. That is disappointing to see. However, it has been more than offset by a 15% increase in visitors from the 26 Counties coming north. That is an interesting factor. Again, a lot of those things are interconnected, and whether they are due to more connectivity across the island making it easier to travel, they are all really positive developments. We can see how the all-island economy is thriving and helping to compensate for a very difficult international situation. <BR /> <BR />Again, when it comes to tourism, its benefits are spread right across the island.”
“Over recent months, our officials have done a lot of work on what that could look like in the medium and longer term. We will say more about that when we have a finalised programme.”
“We now need to continue the work around how to translate an agreement in principle into a tangible programme going forward. We will continue to discuss that issue. The Department of Finance is continuing to work with its counterpart in Dublin to develop the future programme. <BR /> <BR />When it comes to longer-term intervention and what we need to do here, as I have said previously, we are looking at what we can do in the short term to deal with the crisis immediately, because some of the interventions that we put in place to deal with the aftermath of the Ballymena riots in 2025 were impactful and made a difference. We are actively looking at what else we can do in the here and now, working with all our partner agencies. We are also looking towards longer-term cohesion.”
“The potential successor to PEACE PLUS was discussed because, obviously, at the summit that was held between Dublin and London back in March, they agreed in principle to a new phase of the PEACE PLUS programme from 2028 onwards. We discussed that because it is important that we shape it right for the society in which we live in 2026. That will involve widening the scope, ensuring that we incorporate all our communities and ensuring that, when the new programme comes forward, it will be in line with our needs in 2028. We all have a bit of work to do to shape that. Certainly, we have had initial conversations with the SEUPB on what that might look like. <BR /> <BR />In particular, there needs to be a focus on rural communities, as there was in the previous programme. More can be done there as well.”
“Minister Kimmins will continue to work with her counterpart in the South to deliver on the strategy, because rail represents a real opportunity to bolster our thriving all-island economy and to connect communities, as well as to decarbonise our transport network.”
“It was a good-news story to be in Grand Central station to welcome that development, because it is so huge and will be so significant for all-island connectivity. Ministers from across the island came to celebrate what was such a positive occasion. It is therefore vital that we continue to work together. As the Member said, it is a significant investment in monetary terms: £500 million. We will see additional trains, and there are hourly connections. That investment is making a positive and meaningful difference, and we want to replicate it right across the island. The statistics on the increased numbers of people travelling speak for themselves. They show that the better that we are connected across the island, the more beneficial that that will be for jobs and tourism equally.”
“<BR /> <BR />Similarly, Tourism Ireland, as the body responsible for promoting the island as a leading global tourism destination, plays a critical role in supporting economic growth, job creation and balanced regional development. It helps promote economic growth through its support of sustainable benefits for SMEs and communities, of business events, of strategy and competitiveness, of productivity and of market diversification. All of that points to the fact that dual market access strengthens our competitiveness and creates opportunities for exporters and investors alike.”
“I referred to some figures in the statement. The recent combined figures for trade in goods and services between the jurisdictions showed a total value of £14·5 billion in 2024. That demonstrates that the continued growth of the all-island economy presents a major opportunity for our communities here and for many businesses across the North. The Member is therefore right to highlight the work that is being done to promote the all-island economy, such as the work of InterTradeIreland to maximise growth. The work that it does on driving cross-border collaboration, on supporting small to medium-sized enterprises and innovation, on facilitating trade and market access, on helping companies to access new markets and on sharing knowledge and leverage opportunities really strengthens the economy and is a key driver of economic growth.”
“We have to continue to make the case for our economy here, and we will remain focused on the issue with the Irish Government as we move through the volatile times in which we are living.”
“Given the global volatility right now, that remains a discussion at a lot of the sectoral meanings. We certainly had a good discussion about our economy and its potential, including its potential for growth. We also discussed the challenges, one of which is the uncertainty resulting from tariffs. Tariffs are now being used more frequently, meaning that there is less predictability for our economy, which creates trouble when we are planning for the future. That uncertainty is acutely felt right across our island. There is no doubt that the US is an important trade and investment partner for us. We want to continue to support opportunities for our businesses in the US market, but recent developments with tariffs and counter-tariffs mean that we can get caught in the middle.”
“I assure the Member that it is an ongoing discussion, because I concur with him: the institutions must pay. Unfortunately, as Members are aware, there has been a varying degree of response from the different institutions. Given that the Irish Government were ahead of us with their programme, their experience and learning should be applied to what we do. We should not try to recreate the wheel. If something works, we should pick it up; if something does not work, we should find an alternative way. It remains an ongoing conversation, as does our engagement with the various institutions about what they need to come forward with. I thank the Committee for its particular interest in that.”
“However, there is no doubt in my mind that the Executive and all the political parties in the House are committed to ensuring that the A5, the A4 and other major capital projects are built. I have previously said clearly in the House that we have to look at the barriers and find ways to go around them.”
“We are all absolutely committed to making sure that the A5 and the A4 are built. Those roads are a necessity. When we speak about the A5 in the House, we are often talking about it in the aftermath of a tragedy on that road. It is long beyond time that we get that road built. <BR /> <BR />The Executive are having the same challenges with infrastructure projects as other Governments across the world. We have actively discussed how we can remove any barriers that impede capital projects. If a capital project takes 15 years to be built after it is announced, the cost will be substantially different. We have to deal with all the issues that get in the way of our projects.”
“I commend the work of Minister Kimmins and her counterpart in the South, who have worked with Louth County Council and the local council to ensure that the project comes to fruition. It will be only a short time until we will gladly be there for the official opening of the project. It has been a long time in the making, but it is finally getting to the delivery point.”
“The Narrow Water bridge is one of the most exciting examples of all-island cooperation. I was pleased to discuss the project at the NSMC and to receive an update. As the Member suggested, the bridge will deliver real and tangible benefits; it will be a new landmark and a game changer for tourism in South Down and the wider Newry and Mourne community. It will further transform and enhance connectivity, which can only support the local tourism and hospitality sectors in particular. <BR /> <BR />The Department for Infrastructure has worked closely with the Irish Government since early 2022, and it chaired the Narrow Water bridge subcommittee group that has led to the implementation of the bridge plan that has allowed it to progress to this stage. I am pleased to say that significant progress is being made.”
“We are looking at short-, medium- and longer-term interventions. <BR /> <BR />As I said, we met the racial equality subgroup yesterday to identify the gaps in communication, which was an issue that was raised with us. Protecting people is a policing responsibility, in the main, but we all have a role to play. That is why our Executive were working consistently throughout last week to respond to what was happening on our streets.”
“Equally, we had a number of cross-party statements to ensure that we all collectively condemned what had happened on our streets, and we have been actively working with all partner agencies. I have been to our hospitals with the deputy First Minister to meet our healthcare workers, and I have been on the ground in north Belfast to meet our community workers. <BR /> <BR />Just yesterday evening, we met our racial equality subgroup to discuss its concerns and what it is hearing directly from the communities, including identifying any gaps. We are absolutely determined to ensure that we plug those gaps. We have been looking for some time at the whole issue of community cohesion and what more we can do about it, because it will take all of us working together to ensure proper, good community cohesion across the board.”
“Obviously, we are all deeply shocked and disturbed by what we saw on our streets last week, whether it was the horrific incident in north Belfast or, indeed, what happened afterwards. I agree that what we witnessed on our streets was reminiscent of the pogroms of previous decades. None of us wants to see that violence on our streets, and we all have a collective responsibility to be very strong in our political condemnation, standing firmly together as political parties and saying no to racism in our society. <BR /> <BR />Throughout last week, we had a response that was initially led by the PSNI. It dealt with the unrest on our streets and the incident on Monday night. The Executive met on two occasions last week.”
“It was noted that the Council appointed a number of board members to the North/South bodies and that the joint secretariat hosted a board member conference in February 2026. <BR /> <BR />The NSMC was advised that Ministers at relevant sectoral meetings have discussed collaboration to address climate change and loss of biodiversity and how agreed collaborative approaches can contribute to the promotion of economic growth and disability issues. <BR /> <BR />Finally, Ministers agreed a future schedule of NSMC meetings to take place across the various sectors in plenary and institutional format.”
“<BR /> <BR />The NSMC noted that, despite the global disruption to the supply of oil and gas and consequent price increases, there are currently no issues around security of supply across either jurisdiction, and officials will continue to monitor the situation jointly and update Ministers as necessary. <BR /> <BR />The Council noted that, since the last NSMC meeting in October, Ministers have met in nine sectoral formats, and the joint secretariat continues to work with both Administrations to facilitate NSMC meetings across all sectors. <BR /> <BR />The Council noted that corporate governance matters have been considered in each of the North/South implementation body sectors, including business plans, budgets and annual reports and accounts.”
“That coordinated investment will expand training facilities, invest in interoperable urban search and rescue training equipment and procure a flood containment module. The Council noted that the two services and their parent Departments are working to finalise the approach. <BR /> <BR />We also welcomed the announcement in November 2025 of more than €4 million in PEACE PLUS funding for two projects on cross-border collaboration on emergency management — Training Across Communities for Tactical Interoperability for Cross-Border Safety (TACTICS) and Resilient Neighbours — delivered by fire and emergency services and local authorities for both jurisdictions.”
“The Council also welcomed the sustained engagement between the jurisdictions to enhance strategic cooperation in the area of resilience and preparedness. <BR /> <BR />Ministers welcomed the fourth all-island disaster risk reduction conference, which was held on 29 and 30 April in Dundalk, and supported further discussions between the two Administrations on optimising cooperation on emergency preparedness, management, recovery and resilience. <BR /> <BR />The NSMC welcomed the announcement in November 2025 of a €5·9 million allocation from the Shared Island Fund to strengthen cooperation between the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and Ireland's National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management.”
“<BR /> <BR />Ministers welcomed the progress on the implementation of the PEACE PLUS programme and noted that discussions on allocations to successor programmes are taking place and that the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) has commenced the development of a successor programme. <BR /> <BR />We then discussed emergency planning and preparedness. The NSMC welcomed the regular and ongoing collaboration between officials in both jurisdictions on civil contingencies, resilience and emergency preparedness.”
“We welcomed the commencement of projects under the second call of the North/South research programme and the progress on delivery of collaborative research and innovation programmes under the Shared Island bioeconomy initiative; partnerships between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and DAERA; and the co-centre programme. <BR /> <BR />The Council welcomed the announcement by the Irish Government in November 2025 of a Shared Island greenway development fund of €2 million to support the further development of greenways in the border region. The Council also welcomed the November 2025 announcement by the Irish Government that the Minister for Transport will introduce a new public service obligation (PSO) air service between Dublin Airport and City of Derry Airport in 2026.”
“The Council noted the ongoing work by Waterways Ireland on the Ulster canal restoration project and welcomed the continued progress that has been made on the Narrow Water bridge main construction project. Ministers welcomed the continued collaboration to progress the recommendations of the all-island strategic rail review through the rail project prioritisation strategy developed by both Administrations and published in December. They also welcomed the signing on 7 May of the contract of almost €700 million for the Enterprise rail fleet, funded by the Government of Ireland, the Executive and the PEACE PLUS programme. <BR /> <BR />The Council noted the progress that has been made on the Ulster University Magee expansion project and that the outcome of the planning decision on the construction of a new teaching block is awaited.”
“The Council recognised that human trafficking for sexual exploitation is a really significant issue in both jurisdictions that also has a cross-border dimension. It agreed that officials will continue to examine opportunities for co-operation in that area. Ministers welcomed a shared learning event that took place in Drogheda in March of this year that showcased the experience of rolling out Operation Encompass in the North. <BR /> <BR />The next topic of discussion was on infrastructure and investment cooperation. We noted the decision of the Department for Infrastructure to appeal the judgement against the A5 western transport corridor and the fact that the appeal is due to be held on 25 and 26 June.”
“Ministers noted that the most recent combined figures for trade in goods and services between the two jurisdictions showed a total value of £14·5 billion or €17·2 billion in 2024. <BR /> <BR />We moved on to have a constructive discussion on ending violence against women and girls, acknowledging the unacceptably high levels of gender-based violence and violence against women and girls in both jurisdictions. The Council agreed that there is a need for a whole-of-society response to address that. Ministers also agreed that sport provides an appropriate avenue to explore joint working on prevention-focused interventions. Ministers also agreed to explore the potential for further collaboration on initiatives with a protection focus, including child protection in the context of gender-based violence.”
“The NSMC also noted the continued commitment to improving access to records and the fact that officials will continue to engage on that important work. <BR /> <BR />The next item on the agenda related to business and trade matters. The Council had an exchange of views on international and domestic business and trade developments, including developments on US tariffs, recent steel safeguard announcements and current trade impacts arising from the conflict in the Middle East. Ministers agreed that, in what remains an evolving international trading environment, the two Administrations will remain engaged with each other on business and trade matters. The Council also recalled that, where appropriate, the NSMC sectors should continue to consider how agreed collaborative approaches can contribute to the promotion of economic growth.”
“Following the institutional meeting, the thirty-first plenary meeting of the NSMC took place. The deputy First Minister and I led the Executive delegation, and the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, led the Irish Government delegation. The deputy First Minister and I chaired the meeting. <BR /> <BR />In the opening remarks, the Council discussed the current global situation, including the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and their impact on the island. The Council welcomed the ongoing work being undertaken to address the legacy of mother-and-baby institutions, including progress on benefit disregards that will ensure that related payments do not affect an individual’s entitlement to benefits, regardless of where on these islands they currently live.”
“Ministers also noted the progress being made in key areas under the strategic partnership between the UK and the EU and the fact that cooperation between both jurisdictions will continue in the context of the evolving nature of those relations. The meeting closed with the NSMC agreeing to meet again in institutional format in late 2026.”
“<BR /> <BR />The NSMC discussed matters relating to the North/South implementation bodies and noted that the freedom of information code of practice is in the final stages of review and will be brought to a future NSMC meeting for approval. Ministers noted that a process is now under way to collectively review the grading of the CEO posts of the NSMC bodies. <BR /> <BR />The Council had a discussion on the developments in the wider policy environment. It noted the far-reaching global geopolitical developments that had taken place since the last meeting and discussed the current situation. The Council noted the economic impact in both jurisdictions of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East in particular. Ministers noted the pivotal role that Ireland will play in the EU from 1 July as president of the Council of the European Union.”
“In compliance with section 52C of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, I wish to make the following statement on the fifteenth institutional meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) and the thirty-first plenary meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council, both of which were held at the NSMC joint secretariat office in Armagh on 8 May 2026. The deputy First Minister and I have agreed that I will provide the report and that we are making the statement on behalf of all Executive Ministers who attended. <BR /> <BR />I will begin with the institutional meeting. The deputy First Minister and I represented the Executive, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, represented the Irish Government. Minister McEntee chaired the institutional meeting.”
“I urge anyone with any information to come forward to the PSNI immediately so that a full investigation can be carried out and the perpetrator can be brought to justice.”
“Like others, I unequivocally condemn the violent and brutal attack that took place in north Belfast yesterday evening. It was an appalling and horrifying attack that has deeply shocked our entire community. There is no place for violence of any kind in our communities, and my thoughts are very much with the victim and his family at this time. The perpetrator of that heinous crime must face the full weight of the law. We are all united in saying that those involved in violent criminality have no place in this society. Anyone who engages in violent criminality has no place in our community. <BR /> <BR />I commend the courage of all those who intervened to remove the attacker in advance of the police arriving. I commend the first responders, the PSNI and the Ambulance Service who responded to that serious incident.”