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| Stormont's programme for government a milestone - O'Neill | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The agreement of a long-awaited programme for government by Northern Ireland's ministers is an important milestone, First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said. | |
| The programme was agreed after a virtual meeting of ministers lasted about 40 minutes on Thursday morning, a day after plans to agree the document were withdrawn at the last minute. | |
| The document will have to be delivered to the assembly first on Monday before it can be published to the wider public. | The document will have to be delivered to the assembly first on Monday before it can be published to the wider public. |
| First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the agreed programme will "set out the foundations to help build a prosperous and sustainable future for generations to come". | |
| "That includes focusing on priorities such as delivering improvements on childcare, cutting waiting lists, ending violence against women and girls, growing our economy and protecting the environment." | |
| Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the "unanimous agreement" from ministers was "an important step in bringing about an ambitious agenda of delivery". | |
| She said ministers were "determined to build on our reputation here as a great place to live, work and invest" and that "good progress" had already been made in many of the priority issues. | |
| The programme for government comes just over a year since the Northern Ireland Executive reformed in February 2024. | The programme for government comes just over a year since the Northern Ireland Executive reformed in February 2024. |
| It is understood the document contains a number of targets alongside the executive's nine main priorities. | It is understood the document contains a number of targets alongside the executive's nine main priorities. |
| A draft version of the programme, an 88-page document entitled Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most, was unveiled last September before an eight-week public consultation. | A draft version of the programme, an 88-page document entitled Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most, was unveiled last September before an eight-week public consultation. |
| Taoiseach visit cancelled | Taoiseach visit cancelled |
| Meanwhile a visit by Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin to Belfast today has been postponed. | Meanwhile a visit by Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin to Belfast today has been postponed. |
| He was due to visit Stormont for the first time since being re-elected taoiseach last month. | He was due to visit Stormont for the first time since being re-elected taoiseach last month. |
| The Irish government said that the meeting has been pulled due to a schedule change. | The Irish government said that the meeting has been pulled due to a schedule change. |
| Irish national broadcaster RTÉ has reported that Martin is to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Shannon Airport. | Irish national broadcaster RTÉ has reported that Martin is to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Shannon Airport. |
| Zelensky is to make a brief stop in Ireland before travelling to the United States to meet President Trump. | Zelensky is to make a brief stop in Ireland before travelling to the United States to meet President Trump. |
| What did the draft programme for government contain? | What did the draft programme for government contain? |
| The priorities set out in the draft were described by First Minister Michelle O'Neill as "ambitious and focused". | The priorities set out in the draft were described by First Minister Michelle O'Neill as "ambitious and focused". |
| There were nine key priorities: | There were nine key priorities: |
| Grow a globally competitive and sustainable economy | Grow a globally competitive and sustainable economy |
| Deliver more affordable childcare | Deliver more affordable childcare |
| Cut health waiting lists | Cut health waiting lists |
| Ending violence against women and girls | Ending violence against women and girls |
| Better support for children and young people with special educational needs | Better support for children and young people with special educational needs |
| Provide more social, affordable and sustainable housing | Provide more social, affordable and sustainable housing |
| Safer communities | Safer communities |
| Protect Lough Neagh and the environment | Protect Lough Neagh and the environment |
| Reform and transformation of public services | Reform and transformation of public services |
| When was the last programme for government agreed? | When was the last programme for government agreed? |
| It has been some time since a Stormont executive agreed a finalised programme for government. | It has been some time since a Stormont executive agreed a finalised programme for government. |
| The last time an executive managed to get one over the line was during the assembly's fourth term between 2011 and 2015. | The last time an executive managed to get one over the line was during the assembly's fourth term between 2011 and 2015. |
| One was also agreed in 2016 and went out to public consultation. | One was also agreed in 2016 and went out to public consultation. |
| But before it could be passed, the power-sharing institutions collapsed following the resignation of then Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. | But before it could be passed, the power-sharing institutions collapsed following the resignation of then Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. |