O’Neill defends ministers’ records since return of Stormont

Sinn Fein ministers have made “significant strides” since the return of the Stormont Assembly two years ago, Michelle O’Neill has said.

While the powersharing Executive often faces criticism for a perceived lack of delivery, the First Minister said “strong foundations” had been laid.

Ms O’Neill also said her working relationship with DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly was a “challenging arrangement”.

The Assembly and Executive returned in 2024 following a two-year suspension, with Ms O’Neill the first nationalist first minister.

The next Northern Ireland Assembly elections are scheduled to take place in 2027.

Ms O’Neill said she would not be taking any support for granted in that election.

She said: “I think that in terms of looking towards the Assembly election itself, I think that we can speak to the delivery points that our ministers have been able to achieve thus far, because we’re two years into a very shortened mandate.

“I think we have made significant strides forward, whether that is all-island rail connectivity, more wastewater connections, obviously much more to do.

“We have been able to achieve additional finances through our Finance Minister.

“And when you look at Caiomhe Archibald’s Good Jobs Bill, which she will publish in the next week, that is the most progressive piece of workers’ rights legislation.

“There’s no better way to protect workers than to ensure that they have those rights.

“And then alongside that, I hope that we’ve got to the end of the court case around the A5.

“Casement Park, diggers are in the ground, that work has already started.

“I think we have built upon strong foundations.

“However, we have an awful lot more to do.

“I will stand on that record.”

When asked about her own political future, Ms O’Neill said she was “very focused” on her role as First Minister.

She said: “That is a hugely challenging role in a very difficult circumstance.

“It’s still not lost on people, the historic nature of the first ever nationalist, republican first minister.

“People still understand that.

“Also, I think the electorate here are very, very in tune with the politics of this place.

“They’re very in tune to those that want to drive forward, and they’re very in tune to those, particularly in political unionism, who want to look backwards, who want to stall progress, who constantly attack everything to do with Irish identity.”

The First Minister said she believed her job was to try and make the Assembly and Executive work, while “recognising their limitations”.

She said: “I have to tell you, as First Minister, I’d be frustrated on many an occasion by the pace of change.

“I also think that people get it and get the limitations, but they want to know that we are going to work hard, and while the Assembly and Executive exists, that we’re going to do our best to work together with other parties where we can.

“And also, that we find ways around the blockages, which we do.”

Ms O’Neill said she and Ms Little-Pengelly had been able to work together despite different political views.

She said: “It’s a challenging arrangement, she would be the first to acknowledge that also.

“But the job is to try to work together in the Executive, to try to lead that Executive, to deliver the programme for government priorities that we have signed up to together.

“We’re diametrically opposed. But the common ground is we both come from very different lived experiences in the past, we both have very different outlooks for the future, and both are equally legitimate.

“Mine is for Irish unity and Emma’s is for the link with Britain.

“It’s OK to hold those different positions. That’s actually the epitomy of the Good Friday Agreement.

“So I have a different future outlook from Emma, but the job in the here and now is what can we do together.”