Stability is our priority
»» NI political leaders offer reassurances »» Harris and Ryan make support vow
NORTHERN Ireland’s political parties have been praised by the Irish and UK Governments for emphasising the need for stability after the shock resignation of Jeffrey Donaldson.
First Minister Michelle O’neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Littlepengelly have since given reassurances over the future of the power-sharing institutions.
Speaking yesterday in Dublin, Ms O’neill said “now more than ever, what we need to see is cohesion”.
She added: “My priority as First Minister is to provide that stability, to work with all the other party leaders, all those who form our Executive. It’s really, really important now that we knuckle down.”
She said she had spoken to the new DUP interim leader, East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson, and that the leaders of the Stormont parties would “remain engaged”.
She added: “Our collective priority now is around cohesion, it’s around leadership, it’s around working together and it’s around making politics work for today, tomorrow and into the future.” New Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, who is expected to be voted in as Taoiseach in a few days’ time, also praised Ms O’neill and Ms Littlepengelly for putting “the people’s business to the fore”.
He said: “As a political leader, my priority is to continue to support the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, to continue to engage on a North-south, East-west basis in every way that we can.
“I very much welcome the comments of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister in recent days in relation to ensuring that the people’s business remains to the fore of all their minds.”
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the message of stability and delivery from Northern Ireland’s political leaders was “really important”.
He added: “We have a North South Ministerial [Council] coming up and we’ll be very much encouraging the use of the institutions, the need for political leadership.
“I think all the leaders up North and all the parties have an obligation, in my mind, to provide that now.”
Ms Little-pengelly, Donaldson’s choice as the DUP nominee for Deputy First Minister, said she was “devastated” at the disclosures.
She added: “I will be working closely with our new interim party leader Gavin Robinson and my colleagues in the time ahead to continue the work of tackling the big issues faced by Northern Ireland.
“There is much to do. We are determined to deliver for all of the people of Northern Ireland.” Mr Robinson sent a message to his party colleagues on Saturday with similar
reassurances.