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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“Any childcare strategy has to provide high-quality childcare, making it affordable for parents and providing sustainability for the workforce, which is predominantly female. That is what families are looking to the new Executive to do, and I hope that we can make it a real and meaningful project that we deliver in this mandate.”
“We have been visiting childcare settings such as Kinderkids at the Ashton Centre and Shankill Women's Centre in north Belfast. We recognise, as, I believe, everybody does, that investing in childcare is a long-term funding programme and we need to commit to that. That is why we have taken the issue of the financial situation directly to the Prime Minister, because the current financial package limits our ability to do the things that we want to do. <BR /> <BR />I am committed to working with the Education Minister. The Education Minister focused on the issue in the United States. Again, we are looking towards areas with good examples and good practice and ways of doing things.”
“Absolutely. I am pleased to say that, collectively, the four parties around the Executive table have prioritised the issue of affordable childcare. Whilst we all might have slightly different approaches to policy, work is under way to find an agreed way forward. <BR /> <BR />As the Member reflected, childcare costs are far too high and unaffordable, and places are not available in many areas. That is at a time when families are already stretched by the cost-of-living crisis and all the additional costs that people face. The provision of affordable and accessible childcare is key to ensuring that all our young people get the best start in life. That will also allow more people to participate in the workforce. That is a consistent and clear message that the deputy First Minister and I have heard.”
“We have spoken previously about our key priorities, including childcare, reducing hospital waiting lists, tackling violence against women and girls, special educational needs, Lough Neagh, housing and developing a globally competitive economy. A considerable amount of other work is also under way. The Executive's most immediate priority remains the stabilisation of public finances. It is important to us that everyone in our society feels the benefits of the decisions that we make. Work is moving at pace to develop a new Programme for Government, with plans for a fully agreed Programme for Government to be in place for the summer. We will provide an update to the Assembly in due course, and, of course, the Assembly will have an opportunity to discuss that.”
“With your permission, Mr Speaker, junior Minister Reilly will answer the question.”
“I absolutely concur with the Member about what is happening to the people of Palestine. The genocide must end, and it must end now. Six months on, it is harrowing to watch the scenes. The people in that region need support, an urgent ceasefire, humanitarian aid and a political solution. I, personally, took the opportunity, on two occasions, to say that directly to the President of the United States. We know that the United States has been a firm friend to the Irish peace process and helped us to achieve everything that we achieved 25 years ago. I asked that the same approach be applied to the Middle East to achieve an immediate ceasefire. I took two opportunities; it was a platform not to be missed to call for an immediate ceasefire on behalf of the people of Palestine. I took every opportunity that I had to do that.”
“It was also important for philanthropy and looking towards other funds that are there that want to help us to deliver the things that we want to deliver here, particularly given the financial outlook that we have from our budget allocation. I suspect that, over time, we will hear many more positive announcements. <BR /> <BR />The deputy First Minister and I are determined to continue that work, as is our Economy Minister, who is determined to work with Invest NI, Enterprise Ireland and InterTradeIreland. Let us scope out massively all the opportunities that we have and make sure that we achieve better jobs, better-paid jobs and more jobs for the people whom we all serve.”
“Yes. The opportunity that we had six or seven weeks into a re-formed Executive was huge. As I said, the positivity was fantastic, not just from investors. We were there to say that we are open for business. I believe that there will be a lot more to come in the pipeline. The investment did not come just as a result of that visit a few weeks ago. That obviously furthered relations that were built. We had the investment conference and the Joe Kennedy delegation previous to that. It is exactly like a pipeline: it takes time to progress all those things. As I said, if we are to fulfil our ambition for our people and make this a more prosperous part of the world, we have to follow through on them. I am quite positive about what we can achieve. <BR /> <BR />It was important on the economic front. It was important for diplomatic relations.”
“That will be about furthering other opportunities and potentially having a future investment opportunity and perhaps even an advising delegation again. There will be further opportunities for us to go back again in order to follow up on some of those things.”
“We were all on message in saying that we are open for business, that we have a unique selling point in terms of dual market access, that we have a young workforce and that we have a happy population, believe it or not — you would not believe that sometimes when you hear the media headlines. We had lots of really positive things to say. Given that we are such a small, outward-looking economy, it is really important, if we are to fulfil and reach our potential in terms of investing in the people whom we serve, that we take those opportunities. Our key message the whole way through was that it is about prosperity for our people. <BR /> <BR />I look forward to further engagements to follow up on the linkages that we made, including a visit from Joe Kennedy, I think, next week.”
“The Member referenced one of the companies that has chosen to invest here, which is really positive. I can tell the House that the whole four to five days that we were there were hugely beneficial for us. There was huge goodwill. The Chair of the Executive Office Committee was there also, as were the Education Minister, the Economy Minister and the Speaker. We took every platform and engagement open to us to sell our wares, as I described it. <BR /> <BR />On the investment potential that we have, sometimes those things do not come overnight. It is inevitable that you have to build diplomatic relationships and, equally, alongside that, economic opportunities.”
“<BR /> <BR />Our visit focused on showcasing our local economy as a compelling investment opportunity and highlighting the many benefits of doing business here. We were also able to deliver those messages at key events such as the Ireland Funds event, the bureau breakfast and the special envoy's event. As well as having the round-table discussion with the US Chamber of Commerce and business leaders, events such as the Speaker of the House of Representatives luncheon and our fireside chat at Georgetown University, we had receptions hosted by both the British and Irish ambassadors to the US. That all gave us huge opportunities to further our engagements with some of the most influential decision makers so that they, too, can see the potential that we have to offer.”
“The deputy First Minister and I travelled to Washington DC for a series of St Patrick's Day engagements. We travelled from 13 to 17 March. We represented the four-party coalition of the Executive and their shared objectives as part of that engagement. It was our first international visit and an important opportunity to consolidate the strong relationship that our region enjoys with the US. That relationship was crucial to our peace process and continues today through investment, knowledge sharing and support. We continue to have access at the highest levels in the US, including a meeting with President Biden at the White House, to deliver a clear message that the Government here are back up and running. It is vital that we seek every opportunity to attract investment, grow our economy and deliver for our citizens.”
“A Cheann Comhairle, with your permission, junior Minister Reilly will answer that question.”
“Let us end violence against women and girls.”
“Now, our focus is on finalising the strategy and taking forward actions in a coordinated and joined-up manner, with the goal of making a real difference to people's lives as everyone understands what violence against women and girls is and plays an active role in preventing it in every sphere of life. We know that it is urgent and that we must take action. We will ask the Assembly for its support in the time ahead as we bring forward the action plan. <BR /> <BR />I will finish by making a direct appeal to the public to be aware that every one of us in society can do something to protect women and girls. I ask everybody to play their part. Let us get to work. Let us not waste any more time. Let us make this happen. Let us break the silence. Let us work in partnership. Let us turn talk into action.”
“We will work to develop campaigns to influence and change attitudes and behaviours for the whole of society. <BR /> <BR />Just as important, we will work to support partners to develop training packages to equip people to do the right thing. Partnering with employers, businesses and trade unions, we will ensure that there are good policies and tools to protect women and girls wherever they are. Partnering with our colleagues in other Departments, we intend to remove barriers to support that make life harder for women and girls rather than helping them. <BR /> <BR />The framework is just the beginning.”
“Everyone needs to understand what violence against women and girls is and help to prevent it. Women and girls have to feel safe and be safe everywhere, in all places where they live, work, learn and socialise. We will end violence against women and girls only if men and boys are part of the solution. Everyone should be equipped and empowered to enjoy healthy, respectful relationships. <BR /> <BR />Delivery will require commitment from every corner of the Executive and, indeed, every corner of our society. We want women and girls throughout our community to know that we have their backs and are looking out for them. There has to be that effort from the whole of society. Partnership working is key. That means partnering with education, sport and workplaces, service providers, young people and communities.”
“Barriers persist in the justice system and society that prevent women and girls from accessing support. To overcome those challenges, the strategic framework is clear on the outcomes that must be achieved. Core to that is delivery of the domestic and sexual abuse strategy and a real commitment to enhance joined-up working across Departments and with our community partners. Our justice system must be one in which victims, survivors and the public can have confidence, knowing that offenders will be held to account. High-quality and accessible services must be available to every woman and girl who needs them. <BR /> <BR />Much more than that, prevention is key. Many Members referred to the root causes. We have to get right down to the nub of it. For children and adults of every age, we need to work towards changed attitudes and behaviours.”
“It remains a challenging situation, but we are committed to securing a fair and just financial settlement to deliver public services that allow Ministers to begin to deliver on the vision of the strategy, which is to end violence against women and girls. I look forward to continuing to engage with Executive colleagues on funding for the Women's Aid Federation and other delivery partners who work so hard in that area and do so daily. <BR /> <BR />The extent and variety of the good work that is being done is clear, but so is the fact that obstacles remain to reporting abuse and getting the help that is so sorely needed. We need to end the silence around violence against women and girls. Together, we must all say collectively, "Enough is enough".”
“People and organisations from across our communities have helped to shape the framework, and I had the pleasure of meeting some of those people briefly in the last number of weeks. They absolutely reflected their different backgrounds, their different perspectives and the needs of those who have experienced gender-based violence. In particular, we pay tribute to the support that has been provided by the community, voluntary and statutory sector organisations. They have been carrying out that vital work in the most difficult circumstances. As we know, many have been impacted by recent budget cuts.”
“The sad reality is that we all know someone whose life has been impacted by her experience of domestic violence, abuse or harm. Women all have their own stories to tell and their own experience of behaviour that makes them feel uncomfortable or anxious every day. Challenging violence against women and girls is not a new problem, but dealing with it requires a whole-of-society approach, which everybody recognises. <BR /> <BR />One of the very first actions of the Executive must be to introduce a new strategic framework and the associated action plan, and many Members referred to the need for action. That work is now being finalised, and I look forward to coming back to the Chamber to talk about it in more detail.”
“<BR /> <BR />On day 1 of the new Assembly, I stressed clearly how vital it is for all of us to work collectively and to end the violence, abuse and harm suffered daily by women and girls in all our communities. Many Members referred to many examples. I have said it before and will say it again today: those women are not statistics. They are our mothers, our sisters, our aunts, our daughters, our friends and our work colleagues, and they are us. They are we who have been speaking in the debate today. Therefore, we must take action now to stop the violence, and we must never forget those who have been killed. There are too many names to mention, sadly. There are too many families that are grieving for their mothers, sisters and daughters. The murders did not occur in isolation; they are part of an epidemic.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle; I thank you for your latitude in extending the debate, given the significance of the issue and the fact that so many Members wanted to contribute. I am really grateful for that, and I am really grateful for the collegial approach that everybody took and the tone that was set in terms of the seriousness of the issue and the fact that leadership on the issue starts with us in the Chamber. I really think that having the debate today underlines the significance and the priority that we put on tackling violence against women and girls. I commend that approach to the issue and to every other issue as we grasp many nettles in the time ahead.”
“Yes. I hope that the work can start very soon, now that we have our Executive back up and running and a Minister at the helm in the Department. We all have to maximise all the funding that is available to us and get the work started as quickly as possible. I commend everybody who has been working, for example, on the Enough is Enough campaign and all the area's representatives for the work that they have done to get us to this point. I hope that we will see more positive news in the coming days.”
“Yes, absolutely. I know that the Member is a huge advocate for the A5 and understands the necessity of it and the benefits that it will bring. I very much welcome the Taoiseach's recent commitment in the Dáil. That is a positive step, and the upgrade of the A5 is vital for the people in the north-west. The upgrade is needed. It will improve road safety and enhance economic development in the area, so I look forward, in the coming days, to more positive announcements about the A5 and the contribution to its funding.”
“This is far too serious for petty games. It is far, far too serious for petty games. What is happening in Palestine and the Middle East requires a ceasefire, requires dialogue and requires all of us to lift our voice to call for an end to it. All sides — everybody in the Middle East — need it to stop. The bombardment every day of the people in Gaza — the Palestinian people — is horrendous and heartbreaking to watch, so we should all be very conscious of using our voice to call for peace and dialogue. To use our own example, we need to continue to have dialogue if we are to get to a peaceful solution, which is what we all want to see for the people in the Middle East.”
“This all speaks to why we need to properly deal with the past, why we have to have a proper reconciliation process and why we have to properly deal with what was agreed by all parties way back in the Stormont House Agreement, because what the British Government are doing about dealing with the legacy of the past does nothing to heal anybody's wounds and nothing to advance our society. I am committed to building a better future, I am committed to trying to reconcile people, and I am committed to doing everything that we can to move our society forward. No matter who out there has been hurt in the past, that is so regrettable across the board. It does not matter what background you come from or who hurt whom; it is regrettable that there has been any loss of life here on our island.”
“I think that the Member and I have discussed areas like this before. It is so, so important. I said two weeks ago, when I accepted the position of First Minister, that I regret every loss of life, without exception. That is everybody out there who has been hurt in our society. It is our job, together, to try to build a better society. It is our job to look towards the future, and it is our job to try to properly deal with the past.”
“I will write to the Member. Do you mean in relation to how everybody is working in their respective Departments? I will talk to you afterwards, perhaps, to get more clarification of what you are asking.”
“I agree with you. It makes absolute sense for us to publish the FICT report and then move on to whatever legislative changes we may need to make. There is no doubt that the implementation of the report will be challenging, but that is why we need to have the implementation plan in place. <BR /> <BR />I want us to get to the point where we adopt a positive approach to managing the issues of identity, culture and tradition, which continue to cause division. Let us all work towards legislating, where appropriate, and ensure that we do all that we can to create an inclusive, welcoming and multicultural society with anti-sectarianism at its core.”
“At that time, an implementation plan was identified for May of this year. We now need to get the up-to-date position from our officials, and then we will probably talk to the Committee and bring it to the House no doubt on further occasions.”
“Yes. I congratulate the Member on her new post as Deputy Chair of the Committee. I look forward to working with her. I know that she had flagged that area as one in which she is keenly interested. <BR /> <BR />We were able to progress some of that work previously. The FICT report was finally presented to the Executive Office in July 2020. It is a comprehensive document. There are 45 recommendations in that report. It does not provide all the solutions, but it certainly offers us a way forward in dealing with the issues at the heart of division. It looks at cultural traditions and identities and how they can be celebrated and commemorated. It looks at that wide area on the basis of equality and mutual respect. We need to have that full report brought back to the Executive.”
“God bless us and save us. That has nothing to do with the Executive Office. We will work our way through all our Executive business. The Member may wish to be divisive, and, if that is what he wishes to do, that is his prerogative. I am committed to working in this joint office and to trying to do our best around all the issues in public services. That is what I am focused on. I will even go further than that: that is what the wider public are also focused on.”
“I am glad to see that the Member is taking an interest in International Women's Day. I hope that, this year, for International Women's Day, the Executive are able to at least advance our plans around ending violence against women and girls. I hope that we can get close to that juncture for International Women's Day, because it would be a great sign for wider society and for women and girls that the Executive take that seriously.”
“You are right: we are the only place on these two islands without any protection against age discrimination, particularly in the provision of goods, facilities and services. We need to look at it urgently and to build on the work that has gone before to bring it forward in this mandate. I look forward to working with the Member, who has shown a keen interest in it, to get to the point that we are all trying to get to.”
“Consideration of extending age discrimination legislation to the provision of goods, facilities and services was, as the Member knows, the subject of consultation in the previous mandate. At that time, a decision was not made in respect of the scope of the legislation. I have been told that the issue now requires further work to inform the potential scope of the legislation. I have no doubt that, again, like many other things about which we have talked today, we will have to come back for more detailed conversations in the Chamber on those things.”
“What I insist on is that I am here to do business. I am here to be in the Executive. We have chosen to go into the Executive, to take the hard decisions and to deal with public services on a day-to-day basis. We have taken the Pledge of Office. We are here to work. The issue on which the Member has written to us is of a much more political nature, and he should bring it to the Assembly and Executive Review Committee. We will not be found wanting in engaging in that conversation, because we should all constantly be looking at the things that allow us to work better and at what makes us work more effectively. I am certainly up for that conversation.”
“As I said to the Member on each occasion, I am here because I want to be. I am here in the Executive Office, as part of the Executive, because I want to be and because I want to serve all the people. That is the mandate on which we were all elected to serve. We received your letter and will respond to you in writing, but I can say this: it is much bigger than the office of the Executive Office, because what you refer to is fundamental change. The best place for that to happen is in the political space, and the Assembly and Executive Review Committee is probably the best place for that to be taken forward.”
“As I said in an earlier answer, I am going to speak to the COVID inquiry. That is the forum in which we should address all those things. I can say that an investigation is under way of how WhatsApp data was wiped from devices in the Department. I can also say that the Department produced more than 290 strings of WhatsApp engagements, but I am certain that policy decisions were made not by WhatsApp but through the official channels.”
“The framework is subject to an annual review to ensure that it is up to date and responsive to emerging issues. <BR /> <BR />As part of its commitment to transparency, TEO publishes departmental board agendas and minutes of board meetings. The Department's annual report and accounts contain a governance statement demonstrating the importance of transparency and openness. The decisions taken by departmental officials under the Executive formation legislation during the Executive's period of suspension have also been published.”
“TEO operates under a corporate governance framework that sets out management responsibilities and the actions that the Department takes to ensure that decisions are open and transparent. The framework covers the principles of good corporate governance and explains the importance placed on policies, plans and review arrangements. It prescribes the Department's systems of internal control and risk management, along with TEO's internal and external audit arrangements. It is supported by the departmental board's operating framework and by the terms of reference of the audit and risk assurance committee and the major business case committee. Divisions and arm's-length bodies provide quarterly assurance statements to confirm that the framework's requirements are being met.”
“I understand that the university is also developing the business case for a state-of-the-art north-west medical school, incorporating a graduate-entry medical school and personalised medicine. <BR /> <BR />From the progress that is being made and that will be made in the time ahead, we can see that it is quite an exciting time for investment in the north-west. DFI is going to be key to that, but it is important that the Executive are seen as champions of regional balance and that we make sure that we get it right, now that we have the opportunity again to do so.”
“There are the city and growth deals for Derry City and Strabane District Council and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. I understand that Derry City and Strabane District Council is progressing towards signing its deal in the spring or summer of this year. Likewise, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is progressing towards signing its heads of terms in spring this year. That is, no doubt, good news for the north-west. <BR /> <BR />The Executive commitment to increase student numbers at Magee remains a priority, and I understand that the Economy Minister will outline his plans for that in the weeks ahead. The graduate-entry medical school opened to its first cohort of students in 2021, and the second and third cohorts started over the past two years.”
“Some of the work that has happened even up to this point has been excellent. We can see all the other areas where further collaboration can be achieved, and we have to back that up. The fact that we are working across both jurisdictions is equally important in order to maximise the potential that we know is there. <BR /> <BR />Before Question Time, the Economy Minister took to his feet to set out his economic vision, and he referred to the need for a regionally balanced economy. That is important in order to rebalance and ensure that the north-west is part of the plan for expansion and better prosperity for everybody, so that everybody enjoys it.”
“<BR /> <BR />Between September 2022 and May 2023, thematic discussions were facilitated between members of the partnership, which brought together key players, including the local councils, policy officials from both Administrations and other key stakeholders, in order to have focused conversations across topics such as economic development, further and higher education, tourism and health. Planning is under way to facilitate further discussions on priority areas in the near future.”
“The North West Strategic Growth Partnership continues its work to support the north-west region to achieve its full potential and transition to being a net economic contributor. The partnership hosted its most recent plenary meeting on 30 November 2023. The plenary received updates on various matters, including tertiary education and skills, infrastructure and spatial growth, and the potential for green growth in the region. A refreshed memorandum of understanding between members of the north-west tertiary education cluster was also launched at the meeting. It is an excellent example of how education providers across both jurisdictions can work together to deliver better services for students.”
“With your permission, Cheann Comhairle, junior Minister Reilly will answer this question.”
“I am going to be respectful of the inquiry; I answer to the inquiry. I have appeared before the inquiry and will do so again.”
“Absolutely. I am sure that, as always, we all offer our condolences to all those families that lost a loved one. Our thoughts are with everybody who continues to mourn the loss of someone that they held very dear, and I absolutely agree with the Member that this is about them having their opportunity, through the inquiry, to examine our response to the pandemic and ensure that the lessons that are learned for the future are learned absolutely. It is essential that the inquiry has the full cooperation of all, and I have no doubt that that is everybody's intention.”