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

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 Fein Ard Fheis that the DUP “want to turn the clock back” and Westminster has “failed our people”.

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

Ms O’Neill was introduced by party colleague John Finucane, MP for North Belfast, who said the first nationalist First Minister “represents a profound step forward in the political journey of this island”.

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, Ms 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 Fein 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 Fein 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 Fein will work with all other progressive parties.

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

Ms O’Neill also reiterated a commitment to the A5 road in Co Tyrone which she said “remains an absolute priority” for her and Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, adding they “will leave no stone unturned in making sure that the A5 is built”.

The First Minister also spoke about the legacy of the Troubles and called for a full public inquiry into the death of Sean Brown, whose widow, Bridie Brown, was present in the hall.

Ms O’Neill said the UK Government “have made a political calculation to give preferential treatment to their state forces rather than deliver for victims”.

She added: “The tenacity, courage and resilience of Bridie Brown and her family is an inspiration, but it is cruel and it is grotesque that in 2026 the British Government drags Bridie, a woman who is nearly 90 years of age, through the courts just for seeking the truth for a loving husband and a father.”

Ms 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.”

With local elections in early May in Scotland and Wales, Ms O’Neill extended solidarity “to our friends in the SNP and Plaid Cymru”.

“For the very first time in history, there is a possibility that there could be three nationalist, pro-independent and pro-self determination first ministers,” she said.

“What does that tell us? The people in Ireland, in Scotland and in Wales, now more than ever, are asserting their desire for independence, their union is cracking at the seams.”

In her concluding remarks, the First Minister said: “It’s time the choice was put to the people.

“As we approach 30 years of the Good Friday Agreement, we want the fulfilment of that agreement, because partition has failed all the people of Ireland, orange, green, nationalist, unionist or other. It’s time to end that partition and to start a new chapter.”