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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“The factual position is still that it was the Member's Minister who brought forward the legislation. There is no disputing that fact. <BR /> <BR />There is a difference between the approach of those of us who want to be pragmatic and reasonable and do our best to protect our environment while allowing investment in our public infrastructure — I think that we can do both those things at one time — and the approach of the Member's party. It is a very different position.”
“The lead-in time will allow businesses to plan and to build relationships with the trade unions and the Labour Relations Agency, which is really important. That gives us plenty of time to get the rules right and to ensure a smooth transition to where we want to be, which is a place where trade unions and employers work together to ensure that we have successful businesses and that workers get their fair share of that growing prosperity.”
“Yes. It is important for the Bill to move to the next stage so that people can see for themselves what is in the text, what will come in and when it will come in. For example, as I said, the right of access for trade unions will be underpinned by a statutory code. That will very much be developed in a co-designed way. It will set out the rights and responsibilities of the trade union and of the employer. It will be co-designed with employer representatives, trade unions and the Labour Relations Agency. The intention is that the code will come into effect for companies with more than 50 employees in 2028, so there is a run-in time for the first element. It will then apply to companies with more than 21 employees the following year before opening to all companies the year after that.”
“All that will be underpinned by a statutory code of conduct that will require trade unions to act reasonably, constructively and in good faith. Of course, whether people want to join a union is ultimately up to them, but, under this Bill, more people will be aware of the benefits of joining a trade union to their access to support and advice, and they will be able to make more informed decisions for themselves.”
“I do. Trade unions play an enormously important part in a modern and progressive economy. We have seen how the decline in trade union membership has coincided with the growth of inequality and the rise of low-paid and insecure work, so we want to get to a place where trade unions and employers work together. It is not either/or. We can ensure that we have successful businesses — we want to create an environment where businesses flourish — and that workers get their share of that growing prosperity. <BR /> <BR />The 'good jobs' Bill will make it easier for trade unions to operate and to recruit members. It introduces electronic balloting and gives recognised trade unions the right to access workplaces so that they can speak to existing and potential members.”
“Trade union access to workplaces to talk to potential members can benefit women, because trade unions play a critical role in raising people's awareness of their rights and entitlements: they can stand up for a woman in the workforce. I should add that the Minister for Communities has the option of using the Bill as a vehicle to take forward gender pay gap reporting and action plans. I hope that that option is taken up; I know that Caoimhe Archibald has offered it. <BR /> <BR />There are huge opportunities for us to improve people's lives, and I hope that we can get the legislation over the line as quickly as possible.”
“Yes. I agree with what you said, because many women do jobs that rely on tips, and the Bill will ensure that workers receive their tips in full. It is unbelievable that, in this day and age, that does not happen, but that is something that we can change. It can make a real, positive difference to a worker's life to go home at the end of their shift with their tips. Many women do temporary work, so they will benefit from the right to move from a zero-hours contract to a banded-hours contract. That could be a game changer for a woman who is deciding to come back into the workforce or to remain in the workforce. We know that a lot of women are forced to leave work because of the challenges of managing everything, as I said, and their work-life balance.”
“The Bill will also extend redundancy protections for pregnant employees and those returning from family leave. <BR /> <BR />Just look at that picture for women in the workforce alone: it is a much better and more attractive picture. The Bill will create more flexibility, particularly for women in the workplace”
“It will encourage more women back into the workforce as they juggle to manage both things at once. At the moment, workers have to wait 26 weeks before they can request flexible working arrangements. The Bill will allow people to request flexible working from day 1 of their employment. That is a huge step forward for women in the workplace and for all workers. Many women manage work while caring for a loved one. The Bill will introduce five days of unpaid carer's leave. We hope to be able to get to a position when that will be paid carer's leave. The Bill will introduce paid neonatal care leave. Parents whose newborn requires medical care can then focus on caring for their new wee baby and not have to worry about the financial stress of being out of pocket in their wages.”
“The Bill will have tremendous benefits to all workers, as I said to Cathy, but there are measures in it that will really benefit women in particular. I commend our colleague Caoimhe Archibald, the Economy Minister, for already introducing paid miscarriage leave. People have stopped me on the street to welcome that because it means so much to them. Things like that can make a huge difference to people's lives, and people will benefit further from the 'good jobs' Bill in a number of practical ways. <BR /> <BR />As you know, many women struggle with the work-life balance and to manage everything. The Bill will do a number of things, including creating more flexible conditions for workers. That will really help people to strike a work-life balance. That can be only good for the economy.”
“I am very glad that you are following national politics. Well done.”
“I answered that question before in the House. That is entirely a commercial matter for Cantor Fitzgerald.”
“Let us get it into the Assembly and the Committee for the due diligence and scrutiny. That legislation will be so transformative for workers that I really want to see it coming forward.”
“Yes, I agree. I appeal to all parties to get behind the Bill and move it to the next stage so that we can have a fulsome debate on what it means for workers, and so that people can understand exactly what it means for them as individual workers. I genuinely believe that those laws will be transformative for wider society. I also believe that there is a demand in wider society for the legislation to be brought forward. As I said, at a time when people are struggling just to get by day-to-day, there has, arguably, never been greater need for that modernising legislation. The Executive will have the opportunity in a few days' time to agree that the 'good jobs' Bill should come to the Floor of the Assembly. We need to move to the next stage. There is no reason for any more delays.”
“It is about supporting them, and I hope that we get that Bill published and get it into the Committee and into the Chamber for full-on debate. If we want to help people through the cost-of-living crisis, let us protect their rights.”
“Tips, gratuities and service charges will be passed on in full to the workers. Neonatal care leave and pay will be fully implemented. There will be a new entitlement to unpaid carer's leave. The Bill is also about fathers being entitled to paternity leave from day 1 of a new job and paternity leave being used in a more flexible way. There will be redundancy protection for pregnant employees and those returning from family-related leave will also have their rights strengthened. <BR /> <BR />Our economy can be very much strengthened by supporting workers in these times, and the strength of our economy is based around our workers. It is based around their talent and their skills, and that is what the 'good jobs' Bill is about.”
“Thank you for that. You are right. The Economy Minister, Caoimhe Archibald, is bringing forward a new package of workers' rights, which will be the most significant in a generation. At a time when the cost of living is continuing to have an impact on workers and families here, the 'good jobs' Bill is a significant initiative through which we can improve workers' rights and conditions across society. I listened earlier to some of the debate on an anti-poverty strategy and heard that work must pay and that people need to be protected in their employment. That Bill ticks those boxes. <BR /> <BR />At a time of increased instability in employment and when people need stability, job security and their rights protected, workers on zero-hours contracts will have the option to move on to a fixed-hours contract.”
“I have said it in the House, and I said it in answer to your original question: I abhor racism, and I say no to racism, sectarianism and every form of discrimination in our community. Mary Lou McDonald is a political leader, not a commentator, so I think that she can stand over her own expression. However, when it comes to creating an inclusive and welcoming society for everybody, we all have work to do. We all have work to do to ensure that our legislation is up to date, and we are continuing to work on bringing in up-to-date racial equality legislation. It is important that we ensure that everybody in our community feels that they are part of and live in a place that is welcoming. I am certainly determined to achieve that, and I have never shied away from that and never will.”
“Yes. Who in their right mind would not agree? I say no to racism, sectarianism and every form of discrimination in our society regardless of whose mouth it comes out of.”
“We will be saying a lot more about that tomorrow because we said that the dashboard would be one way in which people can see how lives are being improved. Tomorrow, when we launch our Programme for Government plan, we will talk about the key achievements, the indicators that show where things have stayed the same, where, in some cases, they have even got worse and where they have improved. We have to have a holistic approach to those things. It is only one measure, of course, of the areas that we are focused on. We will be launching our annual report tomorrow, and we will be able to say an awful lot more about that then.”
“We therefore need to come at the project in a constructive way, instead of talking nonsense and ignoring the point about who introduced the legislation in the first place.”
“— let us ignore the reality. Let us ignore the facts. <BR /> <BR />I have said from day 1 that I want to see the A5 built. It is a priority for all of us in the Executive. Too many lives have been lost on that stretch of road. The project has, however, been marred by legal challenge after legal challenge, going back well over a decade. We know that there is a legal challenge currently under way. <BR /> <BR />There is nothing new in what I have said. I said, as did the Minister for Infrastructure, that we will leave no stone unturned in order to ensure that the A5 gets built. Of course, it is not just the A5 that is affected. The same is being felt across this island and across these islands.”
“Of course, it will not be lost on people that it was your Minister who introduced the climate change legislation, but —”
“That underscores the work that the Executive are committed to doing collectively on the reform agenda.”
“The £103 million announced for the next phase of that work has come from Executive funding, National Lottery funding and the Shared Island Fund and will deliver real, meaningful and positive change in a number of critical areas, because we are talking about strengthening healthcare provision, providing earlier support for families and children, improving employability and well-being services, providing support for our farmers and agri-food sector and modernising how government delivers services. The projects are a key component of the long-term reform that the Executive are focused on to ensure that our public services work in a way that is meaningful and makes a difference to people's lives. As the Member will know, the projects in the second phases extend across a number of key services.”
“I agree. The second phase of the transformation fund, which the Finance Minister launched today, is another important step towards improving public services and delivering reforms. We have said that we need to come at the issue from a number of different avenues. We need proper, fair funding for our citizens here. We want to do the work on transformation, but we need to have upfront investment in order to do so.”
“The report will demonstrate the tangible progress that has been made through collective Executive action and cross-departmental working, despite the very challenging financial context in which we find ourselves operating. That work is delivering real benefits for people, families and communities here.”
“Local and regional initiatives to tackle violence against women and girls have been boosted by £5 million from the change fund. Supported by £20·5 million of transformation funding, work is under way to reduce delays in the justice system. Steady progress is being made on the Lough Neagh action plan. A new Office of AI and Digital has been established to drive innovation. Improvements to waste water infrastructure continue to support housing development. <BR /> <BR />Tomorrow, we will publish the PFG annual report for 2025-26, which sets out in detail the progress that has been made against all our commitments in the Programme for Government.”
“The Executive remain committed to the delivery of the Programme for Government (PFG). We have made significant progress across a range of key priorities. Substantial investment has supported thousands of people to upskill and reskill. Hundreds of thousands of additional patients have been treated, thus reducing our health waiting lists. Funding for early learning and childcare has resulted in the expansion of preschool provision, with over 50% of all funded placed now being full-time. Investment in the childcare subsidy scheme has created millions of pounds of savings for families. Some £27·5 million of transformation funding was secured to provide better support for children and young people with special educational needs.”
“With your permission, Mr Speaker, junior Minister Reilly will answer the question.”
“That adds to the long line of frustrations with the Treasury, which basically is turning a blind eye to what people here need. We will have to keep fighting that case, and I assure the Member that the deputy First Minister and I, the Finance Minister and the housing Minister will continue to raise the matter at every turn.”
“I assure the Member that that is one of the issues that we have raised continually from day 1, and we will continue to do so. Giving us that flexibility would allow us to reach and even exceed our housebuilding target. We have raised the matter directly, and I know that all parties have probably raised it with the Secretary of State and the British Treasury. It has been raised at Finance Minister level, as well as directly with the Prime Minister, when the deputy First Minister and I made that case. <BR /> <BR />Thus far, the Treasury has accepted that it will consider it as part of the final fiscal framework, but we do not want to wait until that juncture; we want it now. We think that, if we had that power now, we would be able to move forward with more housebuilding.”
“We have played and will continue to play our part. We will continue to have people's backs, and we will continue to do whatever we can to get people through this and to get to the stage where we have a Budget. As things stand, however, the Budget does not cut it; it is not good enough for the people here. My ambition is, obviously, much larger than the Member's.”
“As I said, we are determined to get to a point where we have a multi-year Budget. That is exactly where we all need to get to, and I want us to get there. However, I am not shocked. The Member asserts that we should just accept our lot and move on: I will not do that. I have far more ambition for the people here. We should not be shocked by the mess that is happening in Westminster. We should not be shocked that, at every turn, they let the people here down. We should not be shocked that it was a Westminster scenario that brought us Brexit and austerity and that crashed the economy. We should not be shocked by any of that. <BR /> <BR />People here are alert to where the powers lie, particularly when it comes to helping people through the cost-of-living crisis and having a meaningful package in place.”
“It shows a complete disregard for us that, thus far, Keir Starmer has chosen not to meet me and the deputy First Minister, but we make that case again today. We need fairness for the people whom we represent. We need investment in public services and support through the cost-of-living crisis, and we will not give up until we get what we need for people here.”
“The people here have been failed. That is why we collectively make the case for a proper and adequate funding model. We are asking for fairness. The people here pay their taxes, and they are entitled to good public services. The Fiscal Council backs up our assertion that, comparatively speaking with regard to Scotland and Wales, we do not get our fair share. Therefore, we continue to make that case. <BR /> <BR />In the times that we live in, people really struggle with the cost of living. They are worried about rising food prices, soaring home energy bills and increased housing costs — everything that people are getting really tight on right now. They know that the levers for raising funds sit very much with Westminster, and I believe that people here are being failed by Westminster again and again.”
“We have taken action to support our households, including with energy costs, and will continue to consider those in future spending plans.”
“The Executive have consistently highlighted the fact that the current funding does not reflect the pressures on our public services, as also noted by the Fiscal Council, and that Wales and Scotland receive comparatively higher funding relative to need. <BR /> <BR />In the absence of an agreed Budget, our Departments are operating within contingency planning envelopes set by the Department of Finance, constraining decisions and increasing financial and delivery risks. We remain committed to protecting front-line services, prioritising our Programme for Government commitments and restoring financial stability, while pressing for a fair and sustainable funding settlement. The Executive recognise that ongoing cost-of-living pressures are real and that people are feeling it really tight right now.”
“While we welcome the prospect of a multi-year Budget, current funding simply does not match the scale of the challenges facing our public services. We wrote to the Prime Minister on 17 April outlining the scale of the financial pressures and seeking further engagement. The Secretary of State responded on 28 April on the Prime Minister’s behalf, reaffirming their view that sufficient funding is there, which we obviously do not agree with. We invited the Secretary of State to meet to discuss the issues and challenges in agreeing a 2026-2030 Budget, but that meeting has not yet taken place. The Finance Minister, however, continues to engage with Treasury to underline the scale of the Executive’s financial challenges and to seek additional support to help stabilise public finances and to support our local economy.”
“The publication date for the final report will be agreed in consultation with the organisations doing the research, and I hope that it will be very soon.”
“Again, it comes back to the underlying point that, if we are going to be successful, we have to ensure that everybody is included in the strategy, particularly women in rural areas. In partnership with the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, we commissioned a community-led review of rural women and girls that launched on 15 October for International Day of Rural Women. The review is being led by the Rural Community Network and the Northern Ireland Rural Women's Network. The aim is to understand the experiences, the barriers and the service provision for rural women and to develop practical, rural-sensitive recommendations to help shape and improve future policy and practice. That will be a pivotal part of the work that we will do.”
“It is the responsibility of all of us to work collectively so that serious lessons are learned in both the PSNI — we raised that directly with the Chief Constable — and the wider justice system. We must have a system that protects women and girls, properly sanctions perpetrators and commands the confidence of wider society. We want to ensure that no other family goes through what Katie's family have gone through. If we are going to be successful in ending violence against women and girls, that starts with challenging the attitudes, cultures and prejudices that exist that enable it to happen in our society.”
“Nobody in the Chamber would disagree with that. We need to have a justice system that responds to women, particularly in those times of crisis. The review highlights the depth and extent of the work that needs to be done across all the different avenues, and that it needs to be undertaken at pace. I, therefore, welcome the fact that there is an action plan. <BR /> <BR />A sad thing about the report — much has been said about this over past weeks — is that you would be hard-pushed to find a woman who was surprised to hear that there is institutionalised misogyny across a raft of the public sector, including the PSNI. Jonathan Creswell was a known abuser, and he was known to the criminal justice system.”
“The Executive Office will continue to work closely with the Department of Justice and other partners to consider the review’s recommendations and to ensure that, where appropriate, learning is reflected in delivery of the EVAWG programme.”
“<BR /> <BR />While the review was commissioned by the Justice Minister and sits within the remit of the Department of Justice, the conclusions very much align with the outcomes of our ending violence against women and girls strategic framework. Indeed, some of the issues identified, including the need for information-sharing and improved understanding of coercive control, are areas that we are progressing through its second delivery plan. Those include the forthcoming campaign on coercive control, developed in partnership with the Ulster University and a range of cross-sector stakeholders including, vitally, women with lived experience. That campaign will be launched in the coming weeks. Work is also ongoing to develop arrangements to support related training for front-line professionals.”
“The murder of Katie Simpson was a profound tragedy, and our thoughts are very much with her family, who continue to bear the impact of that loss. <BR /> <BR />The review underscores the work that all of us — as the Executive, as wider society and as individuals — are required to do collectively to end violence against women and girls (EVAWG). The Katie Simpson review provides an important and sobering assessment of systemic failures in the identification and management of risk, particularly in relation to coercive control and multi-agency working. Its findings reinforce the need for a whole-system, preventative approach to tackling violence against women and girls.”
“That is not even the case. Those projects come from the communities organically. The programme is designed in such a way that we work with communities, identify their needs and deliver on those needs. You can see that through some of the examples that I have cited. The scale and the breadth of all the projects has been powerful, as has the partnership working and communities coming together to, as I said, identify their needs and our being able to respond. I look forward to the next stage of the programme creating and delivering better outcomes for communities. It is a really successful programme that we can commend as a method of supporting communities.”
“As for capacity-building, it is really important that we help communities to access funding, whether that is through this programme or any other programme that we have out there. The work that I referred to across projects, whether in Ardoyne or anywhere else across north Belfast, has been very much about lifting the capacity. We should build on that in the new programme, because we have to equip communities with opportunities to reach for any funding pots that become available to them.”
“I do not have the detail in front of me of where the school of music redevelopment currently sits. However, I know that a lot of good work was done there to try to progress that even further, so I will not misspeak on exactly where we are. I will ensure that you get that information.”
“You have only to look at how successful the programme has been and how it has created a real environment for collaborative working that allows projects to work across different communities and villages. That is really important. I want us to see and build upon what has been achieved thus far. I look forward to the new phase of the programme so that we can support even more community development and capacity building in our communities.”