The motion of no confidence in Education Minister Paul Givan, tabled by People Before Profit, will be supported by Sinn Féin MLAs.
The DUP minister visited Israel with a group of unionist politicians, which he calls a ‘fact-finding mission’. The trip was facilitated and paid for by the Israeli embassy.
Others on the trip include DUP MP Sammy Wilson and MLA David Brooks, Ulster Unionist MLA Steve Aiken and Cllr Ron McDowell from the TUV.
He has faced a range of criticism from other parties for using Department of Education resources to publish the visit on social media.
On Monday 27 October, the Department of Education posted on X, saying: “Education Minister Paul Givan visited Ofek School in the Jerusalem District today to learn more about Israel’s innovative approaches to gifted education and inclusive learning.”
“The Minister engaged in discussions with Principal Racheli Yitzhak, along with representatives of the Israeli Ministry of Education, teachers and students,” they added.
Education Minister @paulgivan visited Ofek School in the Jerusalem District today to learn more about Israel’s innovative approaches to gifted education and inclusive learning.
— Education NI (@Education_NI) October 27, 2025
The Minister engaged in discussions with Principal Racheli Yitzhak, along with representatives of the… pic.twitter.com/VhVThJjMg0
Alongside criticism from other politicians, the Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC) has said the visit is “deeply troubling”. They argue that government platforms “should be politically neutral” and called for it to be deleted.
South Belfast Sinn Fein MLA Deirdre Hargey called the minister’s decision to travel to Israel and promote in on departmental platforms as “inappropriate and unacceptable”.
“In the past two years alone, Israel has murdered more than 20,000 children and 500 teachers and destroyed nearly every educational facility in Gaza .No Minister should associate themselves with Israel’s genocide, ethnic cleansing, forced starvation and illegal occupation,” she said.
“Sinn Féin will support the motion of no confidence in Paul Givan when it comes before the Assembly.”
On Saturday evening, DUP leader Gavin Robinson has came out in support of Paul Givan.
“Paul Givan is going nowhere,” he said in a post on X.
He continued: “Unionists will not be bullied by the whims of the Pan-Republican front. I choose who serves as a DUP Minister and whatever about the faux outrage and petty politicking, Paul has my full support.”
Paul Givan is going nowhere. Unionists will not be bullied by the whims of the Pan-Republican front.
— Gavin Robinson (@GRobinsonDUP) November 1, 2025
I choose who serves as a DUP Minister and whatever about the faux outrage and petty politicking, Paul has my full support.
The SDLP have also confirmed that they will be supporting the motion of no confidence.
Paul Givan has released a personal statement on Saturday evening on social media.
“Over the past week, I have been vilified by those who have sought to call into question my character and my commitment to the people of Northern Ireland. The very same people among whom, today in Belfast, were shouting the antisemitic chant “From the river to the sea.”
“Sinn Féin, People Before Profit, the SDLP, and Alliance are fooling no one. We can all see right through this smokescreen.
“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been in touch with messages of support. I will continue to represent the people of Lagan Valley and Northern Ireland with the same energy and enthusiasm that I have always brought to public life.”
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