Sinn Féin’s O’Neill becomes First Minister as power sharing returns after two years
THE North’s first nationalist First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, yesterday vowed to work with unionists to build a better future.
The appointment of the Sinn Féin vice president provided a moment of history on the day the power-sharing institutions returned following a two-year hiatus.
The DUP’s Emma LittlePengelly was nominated as deputy First Minister.
The two top jobs in the ministerial executive wield equal power and responsibility, but the elevation of a nationalist to the office of First Minister, by virtue of Sinn Féin becoming the largest party in the 2022 Assembly election, is a significant symbolic moment.
Addressing the chamber after her appointment was confirmed and she affirmed the pledge of office, Ms O’Neill said the restoration of the institutions marked a ‘moment of equality and progress’.
‘A new opportunity to work and grow together,’ she said.
‘Confident that wherever we come from, whatever our aspirations, we can and must build our future together.’
Ms O’Neill said the people were relying ‘on each of us to act in their best interests and to serve our whole community in good faith’.
And she added: ‘We must make power-sharing work because, collectively, we are charged with leading and delivering for all our people, for every community.
‘In common cause we must make life better for workers, families, communities, to create hope and opportunity.’
Ms O’Neill urged all MLAs to be ‘respectful of each other’.
She said: ‘The days of second-class citizenship are long gone. Today confirms that they are never coming back.
‘As an Irish republican I pledge co-operation and genuine, honest effort with those colleagues who are British, of a unionist tradition and who cherish the union.
‘This is an assembly for all – Catholic, Protestant and dissenter,’ she said.
‘Despite our different outlooks and views on the future constitutional position, the public rightly demands that we co-operate, deliver and work together.
‘We must build trust and confidence in our ability to do that. That will require courage and ambition not just from us who are elected but from the public.
‘We can all invest in this and the more of us that do the better the chance it has.’
Speaking last night, Ms O’Neill said there will be a referendum on Irish reunification within the next decade.
Yesterday’s proceedings in Stormont began with the process of nominating a speaker, with former DUP leader Edwin Poots elected to the role.
A series of ministerial positions across Stormont departments were also filled, using the D’Hondt mechanism based on party strengths.
The Alliance Party’s Naomi Long resumes the job of justice minister, with Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy appointed as economy minister.
The DUP’s Paul Givan is the education minister, the Alliance Party’s Andrew Muir is the new agriculture minister, while Sinn Féin’s Caoimhe Archibald becomes finance minister.
The DUP’s Gordon Lyons becomes communities minister, Robin Swann of the UUP remains as health minister and John O’Dowd of Sinn Féin was appointed as infrastructure minister.
The final ministers announced were Aisling Reilly (Sinn Féin) and Pam Cameron (DUP), who will serve as junior ministers in the Executive Office.
Meanwhile, the SDLP’s Matthew O’Toole will be leader of the Opposition.
Speaking earlier yesterday, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said it has been a challenging journey over the past two years, but he believes his party has delivered ‘what many said we couldn’t’.
‘We brought about change that many said was not possible and I believe today is a good day for Northern Ireland,’ Mr Donaldson said.
Among the priorities for new ministers will be dealing with the budget crisis affecting public services. The UK government has offered a £3.3bn (€3.86bn) package to secure the North’s finances, including £600m (€700m) to settle public sector pay claims.
However, Mr Donaldson indicated the parties would work together to secure more money from the UK Treasury.