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| Stormont's programme for government a milestone - O'Neill | Stormont's programme for government a milestone - O'Neill |
| (about 1 hour 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 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meeting of ministers that lasted about 40 minutes on Thursday morning, a day after plans to agree the document were withdrawn at the last minute. | The programme was agreed after a virtual meeting of ministers that lasted about 40 minutes on Thursday morning, a day after plans to agree the document were withdrawn at the last minute.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. |
| Speaking at a press conference, O'Neill said the agreed programme will "set out the foundations to help build a prosperous and sustainable future for generations to come". | Speaking at a press conference, 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." | "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." |
| The programme for government is a document that sets out the shared priorities of all parties that make up Northern Ireland's power-sharing government and target's that the Executive hopes to achieve during its mandate. | |
| Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the "unanimous agreement" from ministers was "an important step in bringing about an ambitious agenda of delivery". | 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. | 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. |
| Addressing poverty and supporting the elderly | Addressing poverty and supporting the elderly |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| More than 1,400 responses were received in the consultation process for the draft programme for government, the first and deputy first ministers said. | More than 1,400 responses were received in the consultation process for the draft programme for government, the first and deputy first ministers said. |
| O'Neill said there was "broad support" for the proposals put forward, but they have also "listened to the views of the public". | O'Neill said there was "broad support" for the proposals put forward, but they have also "listened to the views of the public". |
| Little-Pengelly said that as a result they have added "commitments to address poverty and to support our ageing population". | Little-Pengelly said that as a result they have added "commitments to address poverty and to support our ageing population". |
| She also said the final document includes "ambitious targets" and that progress would be monitored. | She also said the final document includes "ambitious targets" and that progress would be monitored. |
| The minister said a "wellbeing dashboard" would help ensure the plans were "having the intended impact". | The minister said a "wellbeing dashboard" would help ensure the plans were "having the intended impact". |
| Delayed agreement | |
| First Minister Michelle O'Neill described as a "process issue" a last-minute postponement of the executive meeting to agree the programme for government. | |
| A scheduled meeting was pulled on Wednesday after Alliance Party minister Andrew Muir said he wanted more time to review the final document. | |
| He characterised it as a "storm in a teacup", but the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) described the further delay as a "farce". | |
| Speaking to reporters about the postponement, O'Neill said: "Well look, yesterday's gone. | |
| "We had a process issue which we needed to work our way through, and we've got through that, and now we have unanimous agreement. | |
| "I think the public at home would be more interested to know what our priorities are, and how realistic they are, and how we're going to deliver upon them. | |
| "And we hope that the programme for government will do that." | |
| Little-Pengelly said there are "many different views" across a four-party coalition and they have tried to work in a way that "maximizes consensus". | |
| "I think the fact that we've received unanimous agreement to this programme for government demonstrates that hard work was worth it," she added. | |
| 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. |
| Here's a timeline of events since then: | |
| November 2011: Executive led by Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness publishes a draft programme for government for consultation | |
| March 2012: Programme for government agreed by the executive and endorsed by the assembly | |
| May 2016: Following an assembly election, a new executive is formed, led by Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness | |
| May 2016: The executive publishes a draft framework for the programme for government | |
| January 2017: Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness resigns, triggering the collapse of the executive before a programme for government was formally agreed | |
| January 2017 - January 2020: Northern Ireland's power-sharing institutions suspended | |
| January 2020: New executive formed, led by Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill | |
| February 2020: Arrival of Covid-19 pandemic delays work on a programme for government | |
| January 2021: Public consultation period opens on new draft programme for government | |
| February 2022: Paul Givan, now first minister, resigns in protest over post-Brexit trading agreements, once again bringing down the Executive | |
| February 2024: Executive restored, led by Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly | |
| September 2024: Draft programme for government published | |
| February 2025: Executive endorses programme for government |