O’Neill says she will work to reform Stormont to ‘end the blockage on progress’

By Jonathan McCambridge and Claudia Savage, Press Association

Michelle O’Neill has pledged to work to reform the Stormont institutions to “end the blockage on progress”.

Northern Ireland’s First Minister told the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis that the DUP “want to turn the clock back” and Westminster has “failed our people”.

The Sinn Féin vice president delivered the keynote address on the first evening of her party’s gathering in Belfast.

She said “building a future where we all live side by side” was the “bedrock” of her work at Stormont.

She added: “Showing respect to all our cultures and identities.

“For me, that is what leadership looks like.

“That is the leadership that our children, grandchildren and future generations deserve.”

She added: “I am the First Minister for equality. I am the First Minister for hope. I am the First Minister for all.”

Referring to the current political situation, O’Neill said Executive parties at Stormont needed to “work together with a common purpose”.

She said: “Progress in the Executive has been slower than I would like, and I understand people’s frustration out there, because I feel that frustration too.

“However, despite my best efforts, and those of Sinn Féin ministers, there are quite simply some who do not want to work together.

“The DUP want to turn the clock back.

“They are attempting to block and delay progress on issues that would make a real difference to people’s lives.

“They want to drag society backwards, they continue to deny people their rights.

“They attack everything to do with Irish national identity, they yearn for the days of unionist misrule.

“But here is the thing, those days are gone. We are not going backwards, we are only going forward.”

The First Minister said Sinn Féin would work to “reform the institutions of the Assembly”.

She said: “I am giving a commitment that we will look at proposals to reform the institutions.

“Sinn Féin will work with all other progressive parties.

“To deliver the change that is needed to end the blockage on progress.”

O’Neill said Westminster “continues to fail our people”.

She said: “While the name on the desk may change – whether it’s Johnson, Truss, Sunak, Starmer or even god forbid… Farage.

“One constant has and will always remain – their contempt and complete disregard for people and communities here.

“They brought us partition; Brexit.

“They crashed the economy. They forced over a decade of austerity. They have failed the cost-of-living crisis.

“So, my message to Keir Starmer is clear, our citizens are not second class.

“People are entitled to good public service. They are entitled to a good quality of life.”

She added: “Decision after decision made in London shows clearly that they do not care about people and communities here.”