Debate contribution: Executive Delivery

Debate contribution by Mr Matthew O'Toole on 2 February 2026.

MLA: Mr Matthew O'Toole
Party at the time: Social Democratic and Labour Party
Date: 2 February 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Executive Delivery
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5356513

Text

Deputy First Minister, I appreciate your effort in trying to defend the record of the Executive, but the truth is that your party and Sinn Féin spend most of your time at one another's throats. You are shaking your head, but it is true. Do you want to go out on to the Newtownards Road, the Falls Road, the Shankill Road, the Lisburn Road or any other road in Northern Ireland and ask the public? They do not buy it, deputy First Minister. Two years ago, I asked you and the First Minister whether you would promise not to resign your office before the end of the mandate. That promise has still not been given to me. Will you at least accept that, for the public to take this place seriously again, we need a genuine, serious process of Assembly and Executive reform to improve how this place works, because it cannot go on like this?

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

Part of an exchange

This follow-up belongs to: Topical question AQT 1981/22-27.

Assessment

Not analysed

This is the same MLA’s follow-up within the exchange on their own question. It is analysed together with that question and is not counted separately, so one question is never counted twice.

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