O’Neill told ‘photo-ops’ not enough as SDLP attack Executive record of delivery

Michelle O’Neill has been told that “staged photo-ops and platitudes” are no longer enough as the SDLP criticised the “woeful” record of delivery of the Stormont Executive.

Opposition leader Matthew O’Toole clashed with the First Minister at the Assembly, telling her that if the Dublin Government had her record of delivery, it would have been “roasted” by Sinn Fein.

He also told Ms O’Neill that she was an “elected leader, not a royal”.

But the First Minister hit back, accusing the SDLP of negativity and not having credible alternatives or ideas.

She insisted that the powersharing Executive has laid “strong foundations” to build upon in the future, as she answered questions in the Assembly for the final time before summer recess.

Mr O’Toole said: “In 2022, you asked for, and received, a very personal mandate to lead the Executive.

“Promises were made before and after the Executive was formed.”

The SDLP Stormont leader said the Executive had so far failed to deliver on upgrading the A5 or rebuilding Casement Park and said Sinn Fein and the DUP had voted to block action needed to deal with the environmental emergency at Lough Neagh.

Mr O’Toole added: “I could give lots of other examples of, I am afraid, woeful failure of delivery, but in the spirit of the end of term, First Minister, can I ask you how do you think it is going?”

Ms O’Neill said: “There is no doubt that the Executive and every minister in the Executive faces enormous challenges as the result of years of under-funding, austerity budgets, crushed public services.

“I think every minister around that Executive table is there to do their best.

“I think every minister around that Executive table is there to try and work in a collective effort to address some of the challenges we have.

“Will you do everything immediately? No, you won’t.

“Can you lay strong foundations to build upon? Yes, you can and that is what I believe we have done in this first year.”

Mr O’Toole responded: “Staged photo-ops and platitudes aren’t enough any more. You are an elected leader, not a royal.

“Blaming others when your own ministers have failed to do the basics.

“If the government in Dublin had the delivery record of the government you lead here, your party would have rightly roasted them.

“The people of the north deserve much better.

“Can I suggest when this place returns, you and the rest of the Executive need to do much, much better.”

Ms O’Neill said she had heard nothing but negativity from the SDLP.

She added: “While the rest of us are getting on, no solutions, no credible proposals, no ideas from the funded and resourced opposition.

“I am not interested in the blame game, I am interested in trying to deliver for people.”

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O’Neill told ‘photo-ops’ not enough as SDLP attack Executive record of delivery

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