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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“A key element of that is the establishment of local economic partnerships that focus on the areas that are important across the different council areas. The new £12 million skills fund has been established. We are working to improve careers advice. We really have a very good news story to tell. We certainly took the opportunity to make that very clear to all those potential investors, because, when it comes to investment opportunities, we have a lot to be optimistic about. As I said, our story and our selling points as a strategic location with dual market access, a youthful and growing population and a highly-skilled and cost-effective workforce were all the types of points that we made to those potential investors.”
“The purpose of the summit was to engage with international trading partners and demonstrate that we are very much open for business. We are confident that our positive engagement with stakeholders at the summit and the very clear message about our ability to support innovation and high-quality jobs will drive future investment. Naturally, some of that will take time to deliver. Unfortunately, you do not have one engagement at those investment conferences and quickly translate it into an investment plan. It is, however, important work as part of building up networks and contacts, making sure that we are doing everything that we can to attract investment and getting on with local delivery. <BR /> <BR />Recently, the Department for the Economy published the subregional economic plan.”
“We are working our way through that. A previous submission was put out to consultation, and we will come back on that. I hope that it will be in the immediate period ahead. I cannot give you an exact date, but we want to bring it forward, because it is important that our investment strategy aligns with the Programme for Government work. As we finalise the Programme for Government, it is appropriate to have the investment strategy alongside it as an enabling plan that will allow us to get the work moving. I look forward to engaging with the Committee on the outworking of all that work.”
“It is unfortunate that the Member has decided to take away from that great opportunity for us to sell our wares and let people know that we are very much open for business. It was an investment summit that we turned out to and participated in. We had a great conversation on the Friday at the Council of the Nations and Regions, and we were back to London on the Monday for the investment summit, where we met representatives from numerous businesses that potentially want to invest here, so that we could set out our unique selling points. It was not within our gift to decide that local media would not turn up to do interviews in London, as was the case last Monday at the investment summit.”
“The investment summit was an opportunity for us to make clear that our economy is very much open for investment. It allowed us to be visible to a wide range of global investment stakeholders and to engage directly with companies that might consider investing here, as well as those that already have a presence. We were able to hear about the latest developments from the Government in their plans to support investment and remove barriers. The summit also gave us the opportunity to reinforce the message of why this is a great place as an investment option and to highlight the unique benefits of dual market access.”
“<BR /> <BR />Whilst everything that I have set out demonstrates that good work is being done, I must also make it absolutely clear that, 26 years on from the Good Friday Agreement, there is no role for paramilitary groups in our society. There should be no acceptance or, equally, tolerance of their continued existence. The Independent Reporting Commission recommended that both Governments and the Executive explore the concept of group transition. That option needs to be actively considered as a way of urgently and conclusively bringing paramilitarism in our society to an end. In the meantime, the message across the Chamber must be clear and resolute: it is long past time that paramilitaries disbanded, and there should be no acceptance or facilitation of active paramilitary groups in any public policy discussion.”
“Given the significant progress that has been made and our recent decision to extend the programme, we have asked our officials to engage with DOJ on how the learning from CIT can be built on and enhanced, which includes looking at refreshing the research that identified the target areas. The extension period will be an opportunity to consider how good practice can be captured and shared more widely across the system. That will involve a review prior to the end of the programme to inform decisions on what future work is needed and how best to carry that out. We must all, again, lend our collective support to that important work.”
“Let me get through to the end, if you do not mind. You will have a chance to respond to the debate. <BR /> <BR />As stated in the Programme for Government, those who are most vulnerable to paramilitary harm are more likely to come from areas of deprivation and to experience poor health and educational outcomes and are less likely to be active in their communities. That is totally unacceptable in 2024. That vicious downward cycle needs to be broken, as our communities all deserve so much more and so much better. <BR /> <BR />We all have a part to play in addressing the scourge of paramilitarism. That means that interventions that have been proven to work and that demonstrate value for money must be supported and continue to evolve beyond the lifespan of the programme.”
“That is down to the collective leadership, because that is a crucial part of ensuring progress.”
“The extension allows work to progress with ministerial support. It also ensures stability and continuity of service for the next two years for the individuals involved in the programme and the communities that they support. <BR /> <BR />As Members are all too aware, the pervasive nature of paramilitarism requires our commitment to a robust, long-term and collaborative approach. For the past eight years, the programme has been testing and refining what works. From the outcomes that have are being seen, we all have a much better understanding. The focus of the programme's two-year extension will be on the interventions that have the greatest impact and on ensuring that they are embedded and scaled up where appropriate. <BR /> <BR />As a Government and a society, we must all seek to deliver lasting change in how we deal with paramilitarism.”
“We agree that CIT should be part of a long-term holistic response to addressing the socio-economic needs in communities. The IRC also reports annually on the progress towards ending paramilitarism and has been strongly supportive of the CIT programme and its cumulative impact. It sees the work of the programme as bearing fruit and sees the need for long-term sustainable funding to tackle paramilitarism and transformational work to address socio-economic issues. <BR /> <BR />The recommendations from such reviews, the data from the programme and the consideration of the wider strategic context were all factors that led to a recommendation by the Justice Minister, as lead Minister for the programme, to extend phase 2 for a further two years until March 2027. That recommendation was discussed and endorsed by the Executive just last month.”
“As a result, huge progress has been made on community safety in areas such as Lurgan, Carrick and Larne; restorative practice capability to mediate and resolve conflict has been enhanced through the Striving Towards a Restorative Society (STARS) project; and thousands of individuals have benefited from health and well-being and employability support across all areas. Through the Raising Aspirations project, young people have been steered away from involvement in and recruitment to paramilitarism; instead, they have been given opportunities for positive pathways in life. <BR /> <BR />The Independent Reporting Commission commented on the importance of developing the community environment in areas where paramilitaries operate.”
“<BR /> <BR />The development of partnerships across government and wider society has equipped organisations and communities with a wider set of skills and abilities to achieve positive outcomes. Progress towards those outcomes is starting to show real impact. I refer in particular to the Communities in Transition (CIT) project, which is delivered through the Executive Office. Quite literally, tens of thousands of participants have been involved in initiatives delivered by CIT through the Executive Office. It has invested £20 million across eight areas to strengthen community resilience to paramilitarism, criminality and coercive control.”
“<BR /> <BR />We know that paramilitaries can adapt their means of coercive control. That means that there can be no room for complacency. We also know that there is much more work to be done. A report that was published last month on the link between paramilitary coercive control and gender-based violence by Professor Aisling Swaine makes for harrowing reading. It is not just the horrific violence and threats from those groups that makes tackling the problem so complex; it is the fear created by their very presence. We are committed to working in partnership across the Executive to ensure that there is a joined-up approach. The design of the newly launched strategy to end violence against women and girls is supported by the tackling paramilitarism programme.”
“That shift in public language was clear just this summer, when we saw images of adults placing bricks into the hands of children during public disorder. Describing those shocking scenes as exploitation allows for an appropriate response from the police, the courts and those in charge of child protection and safeguarding. That, in turn, ensures that children get the right support to help them to move forward to a more positive future. I am really encouraged by recent figures that show that, whilst there were 18 recorded paramilitary-style attacks on under-18s between 2016 and 2020, there has been only one recorded since 2020. However, that one attack is, of course, one too many. I believe that the change in attitudes and in the way in which we talk about paramilitary attacks is making a real difference.”
“A new phase of the programme's public awareness campaign launched on 4 October. It expands on the previous illegal moneylending campaign. It highlights a range of specific ways in which paramilitaries harm people and communities through violence, the grooming of children, drugs, exploitation and abuse. Raising public awareness of those issues has a real-life impact and gives people the chance to openly discuss the impact that it has on their families and on communities. <BR /> <BR />For a number of years, the programme has led the way in describing the involvement of children with paramilitary groups as grooming and exploitation. It has also funded research that has enabled the development of a system-wide approach to child criminal exploitation led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Health.”
“<BR /> <BR />There are three overarching linked themes: keeping people safe, which involves putting pressure on criminal groups; increasing community resilience, which is about supporting communities to resist exploitation and harm; and increasing protective factors for those who may be vulnerable to exploitation for many reasons. There is a range of interventions, such as projects for specific groups or individuals who are at risk; support for those who have been victims of harm or have transitioned away from groups and are making a positive impact in their communities; and early interventions aimed at widespread prevention. <BR /> <BR />Focusing on properly understanding the problem and its root causes has been a key feature of the work since 2021. In many cases, the root cause is simply organised criminality.”
“The programme started delivery in 2016 by acting as a coordinator for responding to the recommendations of an independent panel. Following the comprehensive review of the programme in 2020, a second phase began in 2021. That was endorsed by all the parties in the Executive at the time. That phase was based on a redesign of the programme to reflect the review's finding that, while good progress had been made against individual actions, overall impact had been difficult to measure. Phase 2 is now in its fourth year. Departments, statutory bodies and the community and voluntary sector are working in partnership to deliver an ambitious and innovative programme of work that systematically addresses this serious problem. Today, like many others, I acknowledge the contribution of all the partners that are key to delivery of the programme.”
“Members will be aware that the Executive programme on paramilitarism, criminality and organised crime is jointly funded by the Executive and the British Government. It is investing £16 million a year in work to support individuals and communities experiencing paramilitary harm, as well as to break the cycle of violence. The origin of all the work in that programme was the Fresh Start Agreement of 2015. That is the agreement that led to changes being made to the Pledge of Office taken by all Ministers, under which we make clear our individual and collective responsibility to achieve a society free of paramilitarism. That is a pledge that we all must take seriously.”
“It is clearly a very serious problem that requires a zero-tolerance response from government. <BR /> <BR />We have not shied away from the issue of paramilitarism in the draft Programme for Government. Members have referred to the fact that we noted in the draft Programme for Government that its estimated cost to our society is:”
“I welcome the opportunity to respond to the debate on this important motion. As other Members have indicated, the fact that we are having this conversation more than 26 years after our peace agreement is unbelievable and underlines the fact that more needs to be done to bring an end to the scourge of paramilitarism. <BR /> <BR />There is no doubt that our society continues to suffer an unacceptable burden as a direct result of paramilitarism and that, in addition to serious violence, threats of violence and criminality, those gangs continue to inflict hidden harms on individuals and communities. As many Members have said, that includes child criminal exploitation, violence against women and girls and the extortion of hard-working local communities and businesses.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle.”
“That is not relevant to the topic that we are discussing today.”
“We have not spoken about it at this stage, but I can say that I am evermore determined to lead the Executive Office. I am evermore determined to carry out my role as First Minister and to deliver on all the commitments that we have set out in our Programme for Government. We, as an Assembly, have much work to do here. I am determined to play my part, to work with others, to deliver for people, to deliver on the Programme for Government commitments and to take on the big issues of the day. That is what I am determined to do and focused on in my work as First Minister. I will work with the deputy First Minister, the rest of the Executive and colleagues in the Assembly to continue to do our best for the public that we collectively serve.”
“Everything was done according to that policy. So, we acted decisively. <BR /> <BR />This other issue has arisen because people gave references without asking for permission and because the HR manager was asked for clarification after McMonagle was charged, but did not bring that information forward. That is where the issues that we are speaking about today have arisen.”
“Yes. I am not trying to say any different. That is correct. That HR manager was the person who had to manage through the disciplinary hearing. That is correct, because they were, in fact, the HR manager. The question of the serious omission only arose last week, when I was contacted by the British Heart Foundation, which told me that it did, in fact, send the email. I only became aware of that issue last week. I can say that, on 20 August 2021, when Michael McMonagle informed the press officer here at that time that he had been arrested by the PSNI, decisive action was taken. We immediately acted. Our child protection policy and our human resources handbook were deployed, and he was immediately suspended from party membership. He was also suspended from his employment as a press officer. The child protection policy kicked in immediately.”
“No, she did not know, because Aisling did not even start until months after he was actually suspended, so how would she even know that that is the case? I have asked Aisling that question. If we had known that Michael McMonagle was there that day, we would have said it. That is the case: we did not know. I did not know, and I have tried to clarify that for everybody today.”
“As the Member will know probably from his own party, whenever someone is disciplined, that is not for wider public consumption. That is an employment issue between an employee and the employer, so I was very mindful of that. So I am very confident and, as I said, I stand over the fact that I did not see Michael McMonagle in the Great Hall. I accept that, when you look at that photograph from that angle, it could perhaps look as though I perhaps should have seen him, but I did not see Michael McMonagle that day. I would not stand here and make that statement if it were not true. I did not see that individual on that day. I was solely focused on talking to the family and solely focused on the actual reason why they were in the Great Hall in the first place, which was around trying to get the organ donation legislation over the line.”
“Well of course I am ready and willing to work with the Commissioner for Standards, if that is what, they feel, is appropriate. There is no grey area here. That is an absolute. I am trying to stand up and answer all the questions today. I have just offered to the Chair to speak to the Chair about whether or not it is appropriate to come back to the Committee, given that I am trying to answer all the questions today, but I am happy to engage with the Chair.”
“I do not condone that for anybody, particularly in this kind of case, and I will reflect on the issue of references in our HR guidance and our policies, but, outside of that, I am trying to give full answers today to all the questions that are being asked of me.”
“The Member must have misheard me. I said that I am attempting to answer all the questions today, not that I am running out of time to answer questions. <BR /> <BR />I have put publicly on record how, through our internal processes, we have responded to this issue. I have said that I take it seriously — with considerable seriousness in the issues themselves. Michael McMonagle is a monster. Michael McMonagle did what he did, and he is being dealt with under the full force of the law, and rightly so. The two former Sinn Féin press officers should not have done what they have done. They should not have provided references. They would not have been given permission to give references.”
“That is always the case. It does not arise just on this occasion. That is a fundamental commitment from our party in terms of our own child protection policies and our own HR rules, and I just would be careful about not straying too far into accusing people of something that we did not know — in this case, a serious error on behalf of the HR manager in which to fail to provide the information to me that the British Heart Foundation had contacted the office, but, outside of that, that is as far as that goes.”
“They should not have given the references in the first place.”
“Yes. Leadership and responsibility absolutely matter when it comes to areas that are as sensitive as child protection. I share that concern. We have our own child protection policies and our human resources handbook, but, when we reflect on the past week and everything that has happened, there is no doubt that we need to ensure that those are as up to date with the best practice as we possibly can. I am very much committed to ensuring that it will not happen again. I will do whatever I can, including, in particular, looking at references. That is crucial. As I said, in this scenario, two people gave references without permission. They were not condoned. They were not endorsed. They were not given permission to do so, and they should not have done so. That is a wrong — an absolute, fundamental wrong.”
“Mr McMonagle was probably employed by different MLAs at different times to fulfil different responsibilities. I am happy to answer any questions on the role that he played during his employment with any of our team. We want to be as fulsome, open and transparent as we can be, and we will do so with whatever the relevant body is in the Assembly.”
“Yes, absolutely. That is important. I will absolutely not be found wanting in playing my part to make sure that we have policies that are as effective and up to date as possible and benchmarked against best practice. I think that we all share in that. <BR /> <BR />I am attempting to answer all questions that Members have today. Let us consider whether talking to the Committee is also required. I am trying to put on the record all the answers to the questions that Members have posed to me today. Hopefully, those answers will shed light on anything that people were perhaps unclear about. <BR /> <BR />I want the public at home to be assured that safeguarding is paramount to me. I take it very seriously in not only my departmental work but my party capacity. I will do everything to ensure that this is got right.”
“If there has to be a review of passes, so be it. That is what we should do. We should always keep policies under review. The passes should have been returned. There is no other way to explain that: they should have been returned. If the Assembly has to look at the policies and procedures on the cancellation of members' passes, I am absolutely up for that.”
“I have been very clear both today and when I spoke with Fearghal on Saturday that we would not want to damage the reputation of an excellent charity that does sterling work to promote heart health. I look forward to a constructive relationship with the charity, but I have been unequivocal about any reputational damage caused to it. I apologise for that.”
“Those are two distinct cases. In one, an investigation started by the party would have ended with a ruling of gross misconduct. The former HR person is no longer employed by us, so any employment action that we took would have been retrospective and based on what we know now, which we did not know then. That is the very distinct difference.”
“I accept that the Chief Constable clarified his position, and I accept that position. I confirm that what I put out publicly relates to when I became aware of it: whether that was the timeline that I set out for when we knew about the press officers having given the references without asking for permission or the HR officer confirming to the British Heart Foundation, a year later, the clarification point that it had asked for. Everything that I have put on the public record is from within that time frame and when I knew about things.”
“<BR /> <BR />That senior member of HR is no longer employed by the party, but they are a party member.”
“On the issue of the photo, I understand that people may perceive it differently, but I can stand over only my own actions. My statement of absolute fact is that I did not see Michael McMonagle on that day. I was focused solely on the child and the campaign, of whom and of which I have been a big advocate the whole way through. I very much regret that the family is being brought into the middle of this day and daily. I just want to say that. <BR /> <BR />At the Executive Office Committee, when I was asked that question and was speaking from memory, I said that I did not engage with anybody from the British Heart Foundation. Clearly, however, I can see — it has been brought to my attention — that I greeted Fearghal McKinney. I am happy to put that on the record, thereby correcting the record. Hopefully, that provides that information.”
“I assure the Member that I took all the precautions that he does when he employs a member of staff in the Assembly. I employed him many years before this occurred. I do not make any secret of that. It is all on public record, and anybody can inspect it. The same processes that apply to the Member's staff apply to my staff.”
“I want to give a full account, as I said, of what I knew and when I knew it. Today gives me the opportunity to do so. I tried to do that in a written statement on Saturday, and I want to do it again today because I take my responsibilities seriously when it comes to safeguarding. I am a mother and a grandmother. Of course, the issue is right up there on my list of priorities and concerns. I have set out my account of what I knew and when I knew it. I hope that that provides some assurance to the public about my role, what I understood and when I understood it. I have been as factual as I can be about everything that I now know. That is what I have put out very publicly.”
“The two former press officers took that action and provided the references without my knowledge. Had I known, I would have stopped it. It would not have happened because I would not have tolerated that. I have no tolerance whatsoever when it comes to child protection issues. I want to set that out. <BR /> <BR />Let me also say this about the photographs that appeared last week of me attending the British Heart Foundation event in Stormont: I understand how people have taken it in the way in which they have, but I was solely focused on going to see that wee man. I was solely focused on going to support the campaign, and I was not aware of everybody else who was around me. I just want to make that clear again, but I also understand how people might take it a different way. I can only set out and account for my own actions.”
“I welcome the fact that I have the opportunity to set the record straight. As Members will know, I tried to do that on Saturday with a comprehensive statement that set out exactly what I knew and when I knew it. I take my responsibility as a political leader seriously. I want to set the record straight because I want the public to be assured that safeguarding is of paramount importance to me, particularly when it comes to young children. I wanted to take the opportunity today to be clear about what I knew and when I knew it. I hope that I have been able to provide that information. <BR /> <BR />I assure you that, had I known that references had been requested for Michael McMonagle, they would not have been given. I would never have given permission for that.”
“I am deeply sorry for the reputational damage that has been caused to the British Heart Foundation. I regret that this has happened, and I apologise for it. I look forward to a constructive working relationship with the British Heart Foundation in promoting heart health. <BR /> <BR />Finally, Mr Speaker — thank you for the latitude — I want to be very clear that the issue of child safeguarding is of paramount importance to me. I will do everything that I can to ensure that a situation like this never arises again.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have since also established, on Thursday of last week, that, in August 2023, following media reports of charges against McMonagle, the British Heart Foundation contacted Sinn Féin's former HR manager to verify the email address and identity of the senior press officer who had provided the reference the previous year, to which the HR manager responded. That contact from the British Heart Foundation was not brought to my attention nor to the attention of the Sinn Féin leadership at that time. That was a serious omission. Members will know that I spoke with Fearghal McKinney, head of the British Heart Foundation here, to discuss the situation. That organisation does sterling, excellent work to provide support, research and advocacy services.”
“Those references were given without the knowledge or authorisation of the party, and under no circumstances would the party have provided a reference, for work or otherwise, for McMonagle. The party took immediate action against both individuals, and their actions constituted gross misconduct, which would have resulted in their dismissal. However, as the party process was ongoing, both individuals resigned their positions and terminated their party membership with immediate effect on Saturday 28 September. On behalf of Sinn Féin, I apologise for the hurt and distress caused by their actions.”
“I was made aware of his suspension, and I had no further contact with him. <BR /> <BR />On 14 February 2023, I attended the event in the Great Hall in support of the Donate4Dáithí campaign, hosted by the British Heart Foundation. My sole focus was on Dáithí and supporting the family to raise awareness for the campaign. I was not aware that Michael McMonagle was at that event, and I had no knowledge either that he had gained employment with the British Heart Foundation. <BR /> <BR />On Wednesday 25 September 2024, Sinn Féin and I were informed that two press offers who were former colleagues of Michael McMonagle had provided employment references for him. I am absolutely appalled and horrified that that occurred.”