Michelle O’Neill, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, has rejected claims that her party’s recent controversies have impacted government stability. Speaking at the opening of Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh, the second Irish language school outside Belfast, O’Neill accepted the past few weeks have been “difficult”, but confirmed that the power-sharing executive remains “stable” and “there is a collective will” to make politics work.
The First Minister also responded to criticism surrounding her appearance before a Stormont scrutiny committee, stating that she looks forward to focusing on the future and moving away from the negative attention. O’Neill emphasised that herself and Deputy First Minister, Emma, have a “huge lot of work to get through”, adding that they are “determined to continue to lead from the front on all the key issues of the day.”
O’Neill dismissed any notion of a threat to the future of government at Stormont, stating that “the executive is stable” and that it is necessary to work together in order to achieve objectives and priorities. The First Minister remained resolute in her ambition to lead the executive, stating that she believes that there is a “collective will” amongst parties to make politics work and to deliver what the public demands and deserves.
The £7.2m school opening in Strabane represents a significant investment in Irish language education and emphasises the strategic focus of the government as it seeks to improve educational opportunities for children in Northern Ireland
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