Debate contribution: COVID-19 Inquiry Report

Debate contribution by Mr Matthew O'Toole on 24 November 2025.

MLA: Mr Matthew O'Toole
Party at the time: Social Democratic and Labour Party
Date: 24 November 2025
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: COVID-19 Inquiry Report
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5254211

Text

First Minister, I am afraid that many of the people who lost loved ones in the pandemic will be frustrated with your answer, which is long on generic platitudes. We all can learn lessons, of course, but you were the deputy First Minister then and are the First Minister now. You are personally responsible, not simply in a generic way. It is clear that one of the lessons to be learned concerns the toxicity and dysfunctionality of our political institutions. Do you agree with that, and will you commit to endorsing a programme of reform of Stormont before the end of the mandate? Please, First Minister, do not simply refer it to the Assembly and Executive Review Committee (AERC), on which I sit. We all know about the Committee. Do you endorse a programme of reform as a specific lesson arising out of the public inquiry?

146 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Part of an exchange

This follow-up belongs to: Topical question AQT 1801/22-27.

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Not analysed

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