Debate contribution: Racism, Sectarianism and Xenophobia
Debate contribution by Ms Michelle O'Neill on .
- MLA
- Ms Michelle O'Neill
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 22 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Racism, Sectarianism and Xenophobia
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5638093
Read the official Assembly record
Text
As I have made clear, we condemn in the strongest possible terms the racially motivated violence that we have seen. It is appalling behaviour that has no place in our society, and it must be called out for what it is: hatred, intimidation and utter thuggery. Last week, we issued an Executive statement condemning all forms of racism, sectarianism and hostility towards individuals from different backgrounds. We also stood alongside the Chief Constable to call for calm and to clearly call out the events of last week for what they were. We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of hate and intimidation, and we are clear that these actions must stop immediately. Our refugee integration strategy reinforces our commitment to challenge prejudice, racism and intimidation. The draft framework for race relations, which has just been subject to a public consultation, sets out four proposed outcomes, which include combating racism and race hate crime. We will carefully analyse the consultation responses to inform the final framework. Additionally, the review of Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC) is informing the development of a refreshed approach to good relations that will have a continued focus on improving inter- and intra-community relations, including impacting on issues such as sectarian and race hate crime.
210 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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