First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said the Northern Ireland Executive remains stable following several controversies surrounding Sinn Fein in recent weeks.
Speaking to BBC News NI, she said: “I’ve spent four weeks now answering questions, where I am focused on now is the business of government.”
“Emma and I have a huge lot of work to get through, we’re determined to continue to lead from the front on all the key issues, whether that’s health transformation, growing our economy, that’s the job at hand, and that’s the job I am committed to as First Minister.”
She admitted that there will have been some impact on relationships within the Executive after coming through “a difficult period like the last number of weeks,” but she also said that “people should be very assured. The government is stable, the Executive is stable, we are there to work together.”
“There is a collective will across the Executive to make politics work here,” she added.
At the end of September, it was revealed that two Sinn Fein press officers resigned from the party after providing references for Michael McMonagle, another former Sinn Fein press officer, who admitted to child sex offences earlier in September.
Sinn Fein confirmed at the time that they did not authorise the references, and they were not notified of the references until they were contacted by the British Heart Foundation, whom McMonagle gained employment with.
Mary Lou McDonald apologised to the British Heart Foundation for being “dragged into this controversy,” when she addressed the Dáil on 15 October 2024.
Last week Niall Ó Donnghaile confirmed that he sent inappropriate messages to a teenager in September 2023.
He resigned from the Seanad in December 2023, stating health concerns. At the time, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said, “I want to wish Niall Ó Donnghaile the very best for the future,”
“I hope that Niall can overcome the health challenges that he has had to deal with over the past number of months, and I wish him and his family the very best for the future.”
Earlier this week a Sinn Fein employee resigned from the party after admitting to involvement in the damage to a portrait of a former DUP lord mayor in Belfast City Hall.
Michelle O’Neill appeared in front of the Executive Office Committee on Wednesday, but the meeting just revealed more chaos, with members arguing over what questions could be asked to the First Minister as she was appearing on behalf of the Executive Office – a joint office with Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
Sinn Fein will hope there will be no more controversies in the near future, especially with the rumours of a general election being called in the Republic of Ireland.
