All of Ms Michelle O'Neill’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
Recent comments quoted in the BBC 'Borderland' podcast are a matter for those who were interviewed. Our Department has been representing the interests of victims and survivors for many years. We remain committed to ensuring that their needs are met. A key commitment in the victims and survivors strategy is to provide…
Yes, we raised that issue at a recent meeting with a British Government Minister whose name escapes me just now. We had a discussion about youth mobility. Clearly, there is a whole new strategic focus, with a new partnership arrangement between the British Government and the EU, and the youth mobility scheme is built…
In short, yes, absolutely. You mentioned the TCI conference. That was a conference last week that I and the Taoiseach spoke at. The theme of the conference was clustering and how we work together. I took the opportunity to talk about the manufacturing and engineering growth and advancement (MEGA) network, which is a…
Yes. We are moving closer to finalising an international relations strategy, which will focus on all our international relations but, in a post-Brexit world in particular, our relationship with Europe more generally. Certainly, there is a recognition that Europe remains one of our most significant partners for trade,…
We do not underestimate the importance of having a strategic focus on Europe as our closest neighbour. Following Brexit, our officials continue to explore how best to engage strategically to manage the challenges of our new relationship as well as maximise the opportunities that it presents. That work has been…
The Executive Committee’s Legislation Programme 2025-2026 That this Assembly notes the Executive Committee’s Legislation Programme for the 2025-26 session of the Assembly, published in the written ministerial statement on 3 October 2025
We are working our way through the legislative process at the moment. The unique aspect of the scheme is that there will be two payments: one upfront payment and a payment that will come at a later stage after the public inquiry. That is unique compared with any other scheme, because it includes that first payment. It…
Our work on that is ongoing. The Committee for the Executive Office is working its way through the legislation. It is a huge area, and we want to get it right. We are determined to do everything that we can to support all victims and survivors. I am glad to say that we are making some progress on erecting a plaque in…
It is important that we continue with all our business engagements. It is right and proper that we do so and that we have the message that we are open for business and that we are a great place in which to live, work and invest. That is our continued message when we engage with many. That is the appropriate approach…
Dual market access is a prize that we need to grab together. The fact that we have access to both markets makes us the envy of many other places; in fact, there are companies that have, of late, pointed to dual market access contributing to their growth. That is positive. The Murphy report, which was published last…
I totally agree that there is so much more to do in order to build on the huge strides forward and allow the language to grow. There are so many children being educated through the medium of Irish today. They want to see their language and to hear their language in the community in which they live. That ongoing…
Maith sibh. It was really heartening to see the huge crowds in Dublin at the weekend. It shows the vibrancy of the Irish language community. Taking to the streets to march for equality and fairness across the board is a testament to the strength and the energetic revival of the Irish language here. Gaelic continues to…
Being victim- and survivor-centred will be key to its success; I absolutely agree with you. However, the British Government chose to launch the framework jointly with the Irish Government last Friday. We see the framework, but there is then a period between that and seeing what the legislative text looks like in terms…
As I said earlier, the framework was published only on Friday, so we do not yet understand what the legislative text looks like. We need to understand that. There will, of course, be a role for the Victims and Survivors Service in supporting all victims and survivors. We cannot engage on what the remit of the body is…
I will have to help you out with a wee biology lesson. I was born a biological baby girl; I grew into a teenager; and I am now a fully fledged woman. There are also trans women in our community. If women can be supportive and inclusive of trans women, you should also. However, I fear, as the trans community fears,…
That is absolutely ridiculous, and you are making a show of yourself. You are fascinated with the definition of a woman, and I think that that says a lot about you.
Do you not see the hypocrisy of going against the decision of the democratically elected local councillors? I back the councillors and their decision, because it was right and appropriate. You should also respect the council's decision, because it was taken in the best interest of the community.
The Member will know that I have made my position on the matter clear. The democratically elected local councillors know best what is good in their own community. Given the history of the British Army in Derry, I stand over saying that I think that that was the right call for them to make about what happens at a jobs…
FlaggedDecided on a second assessment.Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarismCriteria met: Identity framing, Cultural grievance politics.
I have made my position very clear to the Member. You are on the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, and that is the forum in which we can discuss those issues. I am the First Minister, there is a deputy First Minister, and it is a joint office. I have never shied away from that. I also used the joint office…
The Member will know that that is under the remit of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, which is actively working through the matter. We all fought the election on the rules as they stand, and when we get to the point at which potential change is brought forward, under that Committee's remit, we can all make…
It is not really related to the question, but I will say that I have made my position clear on the jobs fair. I think that the locally elected councillors made the right call.
For the first time ever, right at the heart of the Executive's economic strategy, regional balance is writ large. It is an objective for Invest NI, and we can very much see that starting to be borne out. I therefore encourage you to be more positive about what is being achieved in the wider north-west. Regional…
Thank you for that question. I did not know that we had visitors from the north-west: you are very welcome. Putting regional balance at the heart of the economic strategy here was a deliberate approach to ensure that we unlock the north-west's full potential and that investment is shared across the board. I sometimes…
The Member is a representative of the north-west, and it is important to make sure that we underline the sheer scale of investment that there has been in the north-west recently. We should all be buoyed by that positivity. You mentioned the site's being transferred to the council. That process has been ongoing for a…