First Minister of Northern Ireland, Vice President of Sinn Féin, MLA for Mid Ulster
Sinn Féin has announced that they will not be attending St Patrick’s Day celebrations at the White House, in what they call a “principled stance in response to the call for the mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza”. The DUP say the decision is “short-sighted and counterproductive”.
Following Conor Murphy’s successful election to the Seanad, Sinn Féin has announced a reshuffle of their Executive Ministers. Liz Kimmins joins John O’Dowd and Caoimhe Archibald on the frontbench – but all in new departments.
In the wake of the scandal surrounding former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle, the Assembly has published a review into the use of allowances by MLAs. It says that it is likely that McMonagle ‘misrepresented details of his employments’.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill’s special adviser and Sinn Féin councillor on Belfast City Council, Cliódhna Nic Bhranair, has stepped down from her role on the council to focus on her job at Stormont, according to reports from Belfast Media Group.
The Northern Ireland Executive ‘is stable’ confirms First Minister Michelle O’Neill, following a range of recent controversies rocking Sinn Fein, but she admits that there will have been some impact on relationships following ‘a difficult period like the last number of weeks’.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly attended the first meeting of the newly established Council of the Nations and Regions on Friday. Held in Edinburgh, it brings the Prime Minister together with leaders from across the UK.
Former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle has admitted to several child sex offences and is awaiting sentencing, but it’s been revealed that two of his former colleagues provided references for him to gain employment at the British Heart Foundation, after his contract was terminated by the party.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden MP has made his first visit to Northern Ireland after being appointed as Minister for Intergovernmental Relations. He met with Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly alongside NI Secretary Hilary Benn.
The leaders of the five main parties at Stormont have written to the Government calling them to restore funding for the remaining two City and Growth Deals, after they were paused on Friday evening by the Chancellor.
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