First Minister

Drumcree church. Picture: Press Eye

Bryant has ‘lost the confidence of vast numbers’ in NI, says DUP peer

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill attend a community event in support of the Garvaghy Road residents

First Minister expresses ‘relief’ at Bryant’s decision to stop parade

First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald meet with locals on the Garvaghy Road.

DUP challenged to ensure consequences for ‘First Minister of lawlessness’

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill attend a community event in support of the Garvaghy Road residents on Saturday

Sinn Féin will ‘of course’ co-operate with any PSNI probe into Garvaghy Road

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald and First Minister Michelle O’Neill pictured meeting residents on the Garvaghy Road. Picture by /PressEye

Michelle O’Neill ‘stands over’ choice to take part in Drumcree parade protest

First Minister Michelle O'Neill MLA and Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald were among nationalist leaders at the unnotified protest that blocked Garvaghy Road on Sunday. Photo: Peter Morrison/PA Wire

O’Neill says she has not been contacted by police and does not expect arrest

Police monitor protesters continuing to block the Garvaghy Road (Photo by Paul Faith / AFP via Getty Images)

Parading dispute prompts further Assembly clashes at Stormont

(left to right) TUV councillor Chrissy Jamieson, TUV chairman and councillor Allister Kyle, TUV MLA MLA Timothy Gaston, TUV councillor Ron McDowell and TUV representative Ann McClure speaking to the media in the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, following a day-long stand-off in the Drumcree parading dispute. Thousands of protesters formed a blockade on Sunday along the predominantly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown, in a bid to prevent a contentious Orange Order parade passing. Picture date: Monday September 28, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

TUV say 'a line has been crossed' and DUP should collapse Stormont

First Minister Michelle O'Neill (centre left) and Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald (centre right) at the Garvaghy road ahead of a Portadown District Loyal Orange Lodge (LOL) No 1 march in the first parade along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown for almost 30 years, after the parade was given clearance in a late-night hearing. Pic: Peter Morrison/PA Wire

Stormont crisis as unionists slam Sinn Fein over Drumcree road block

First Minister Michelle O'Neill (centre left) and Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald (centre right) at the Garvaghy road ahead of a Portadown District Loyal Orange Lodge (LOL) No 1 march in the first parade along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown for almost 30 years, after the parade was given clearance in a late-night hearing.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson condemns actions of Michelle O’Neill

Portadown Orangemen form up at Drumcree Church before standing down after being told by the police the Garavaghy Road is not clear. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

O’Neill calls on NI Secretary to intervene in Drumcree parade dispute

Morning View

Editorial: Drumcree ruling is fair and an attempt to balance the rights of all

First Minister Michelle O'Neill

Effort to secure more funding from London for budget is ‘right fight’: O’Neill

TUV leader Jim Allister

TUV leader said he has not been approached over unionist co-operation

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly delivers a speech to the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) conference at La Mon Hotel, Belfast. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Little-Pengelly says unionists wanting direct rule need to 'get real'

Marie Macklin in centre standing with summit attendees in Edinburgh.

Orange Order and DUP Edinburgh summit sappeal to Swinney for dialogue
A summit between the Orange Order and DUP in Edinburgh has resulted in an appeal to the First Minister of Scotland to take part in future dialogue about strengthening links between the home nations of the UK.
Philip Bradfield

UUP Leader Jon Burrows speaking to the media in the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings, Stormont. Pic: Mark Marlow/PA Wire

Jon Burrows rejects TUV criticism over Michelle O'Neill debate offer

Catherine Connolly told reporters in Glasgow on Thursday that it is “for the people of Scotland to determine their future” when it comes to independence.

Irish president discussed ‘importance of self-determination’ with Swinney

MLAs are seeking legal advice on compelling First Minister Michelle O'Neill to attend a Stormont committee. Pic: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Sinn Fein denies claims Michelle O'Neill is 'on the run from scrutiny'

(left to right) First Minister of Scotland John Swinney, First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill, during a meeting at Voco St. David's Cardiff, to discuss the "pursuit of a different attitude" from the UK Government and the future of independence for their respective countries.

O’Neill cannot be separated from First Minister’s responsibilities, says Swinney

Northern Ireland's deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and DUP Party leader Gavin Robinson speaking to the media in the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, on Monday

DUP never ‘hitched wagon’ to Donald Trump, Robinson says

Stormont First Minister Michelle O'Neill

Michelle O'Neill accused of trying to 'weaponise role of First Minister'

John Finucane, Catherine Nelson, First Minister Michelle O'Neill and John O'Dowd speaking to the media near Garvaghy Road, Portadown, after the High Court quashed a decision by the Parades Commission to impose restrictions on the annual Orange Order parade at Drumcree. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire

David Thompson: SF may regret getting itself up to high doh over Drumcree

Trevor Clarke has rubbished the comments from Michelle O'Neill

DUP MLA dubs Michelle O'Neill's comments on collapsing Stormont 'laughable'

First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said residents from the mainly-nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown are "anxious" at what she called "triumphalism" by unionist leaders following a court ruling over one of Northern Ireland's most contentious parades.

Michelle O’Neill’s stance on Drumcree slammed

First Minister Michelle O'Neill (right) and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026. Pic: Oliver McVeigh/PA Wire

David Thompson: Could it be SF's attitude that's undermining Stormont?

The nationalist government in Wales has been using the term 'the north' to described Northern Ireland in official business. Photo: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Row over Wales using term 'North of Ireland' in official government business
Reform UK has accused Wales’s nationalist First Minister of disrespecting the people of Northern Ireland, by refusing to say they will only use the country’s official name in government business.
David Thompson

Northern Ireland waste-management service McKinstry Group and Dungannon’s Kiverco have marked the completion and handover of a major new £16m recycling plant, representing a significant investment in local waste recovery, recycling infrastructure and circular economy

'Significant': Two NI companies mark completion of landmark £16m recycling plant

First Minister Michelle O'Neill speaking during a press conference in The Great Hall of Parliament Buildings at Stormont, Belfast, today. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

O’Neill urges probe into claim police advised nurses to show IDs to masked gangs

First minister Michelle O’Neill unveiled the proposals

Sinn Fein proposals aim to 'remove ever-present threat of collapse' at Stormont

NI education minister Paul Givan said Sinn Fein had previously assented to the bill

DUP accuses Sinn Fein of 'spectacle' in their criticism of education bill

DUP leader Gavin Robinson

Scottish First Minister should apologise over Troubles remarks: Robinson

First Minister and Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill has been urged to ensure the removal of a social media video “targeting” a DUP MLA. The clip posted by Ogra Shinn Fein on Friday shows DUP Pam Cameron appearing to criticise her party colleague Communities Minister Gordon Lyons during a meeting of the Stormont Communities Committee. (File image)

Michelle O’Neill urged to ensure removal of clip targeting DUP MLA

Paul Frew was reacting to remarks today from the economy minister

DUP MLA describes claim people are turning on the Union as 'ridiculous'

First Minister Michelle O'Neill speaks to the media at the Balmoral agricultural show at Balmoral Park

ICRIR failed and discredited, says Michelle O’Neill

Sir Keir put forward the idea of a meeting in June during a phone call with Plaid Cymru’s newly-installed First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth

Starmer ‘open to conversation’ on devolving more powers – Welsh First Minister

Sinn Fein MP Pat Cullen, Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill, party president Mary Lou McDonald and senator Conor Murphy speak to the media outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. Picture: Pol Allingham/PA Wire

Westminster ‘chaos’ underlines need to ‘break shackles’, says O’Neill

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly

Northern Ireland needs supportive first minister not abolition – Little-Pengelly

First Minister Michelle O'Neill (centre) with Sinn Fein party colleagues Pat Cullen and John Finucane speaking to the media during a press conference in The Great Hall of Parliament Buildings at Stormont, Belfast

NI First Minister excited by ‘seismic political shift’ across UK

First Minister of Wales Baroness Eluned Morgan (centre) lost her seat as Welsh nationalists decimated Labour in its traditional heartland. Photo: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Unionist leaders dismiss claims the UK is weakened after GB elections

First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney

Prospect of three nationalist FMs shows UK has ‘fundamentally’ changed – Swinney

First Minister Michelle O'Neill said a dissident bomb attack had brought "terror" to Dunmurry. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Unionists react to Michelle O'Neill Dunmurry 'terror' comment

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald and vice-president Michelle O'Neill speak to the media, ahead of the second day of the party's Ard Fheis (annual conference), outside the International Convention & Exhibition Centre in Belfast

Michelle O’Neill says she is ‘not fixated on titles’ amid Stormont reform talk

First Minister Michelle O'Neill this week opposed a £50m investment in the NI defence indsutry. Pictured is Rishi Sunak with an NLAW anti-tank launcher, supplied to Ukraine, during a campaign visit to Thales Defence System plant in Belfast in 2022.

DUP flags SF ‘opposition’ to defence and US banking investments

Northern Ireland First Minister and Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill addresses the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis, at International Convention & Exhibition Centre in Belfast. Picture date: Friday April 24, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

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

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has defended the government's £50m defence investment after SF criticism. Photo: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

Hilary Benn defends NI defence investment after SF criticism

Sinn Fein First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald snubbed a defence investment event in Belfast.

SF 'riding two horses' as minister snubs defence event but sends officials

NI Executive ministers Gordon Lyons, Emma Little-Pengelly, Michelle O'Neill and John O'Dowd during a press conference at Stormont Castle in Belfast. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

£100 heating vouchers announced as SDLP says ministers must stop blaming London

Jon Burrows says emergency services should not be impeded by any protests. Photo (stock image): Pacemaker

UUP warn against fuel protest roadblocks as trusts issue advice to patients

Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly's office has sought to reassure the public on fuel supply. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

No fuel supply chain disruption, but situation 'closely monitored' - Executive

Disruption to petrol supplies has been caused by Iran's stranglehold on oil tankers passing through the key international shipping route in the Straight of Hormuz, sending prices at the pumps soaring. Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire

Burrows calls for Executive to have plans in place for fuel shortages

Michelle O’Neill said she supports a call from Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, for an “urgent meeting” with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer “on the need for action as energy costs spiral”

Michelle O’Neill backs ‘urgent meeting’ with Prime Minister on energy costs

Northern Ireland Communities Minister Gordon Lyons during the Ireland Funds National Gala at the National Building Museum in Washington DC, during his visit to the US for St Patrick's Day.

First Minister ‘wrong’ to stay away from Washington DC, Lyons says

Celtic fans invade the pitch following their team's penalty shoot out win after the Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup quarter-final match at Ibrox Stadium

'I would not take my son to Old Firm game' says Scottish First Minister

(L-R) Dominic Kearns, CEO and Co-Founder of Fibrus; Jenny Lennon, Managing Director of Hyperfast Networks; Emma Little-Pengelly, deputy First Minister; Michelle O'Neill, First Minister; Caleb Howard, Owner of Littlebridge Farm; Shane Haslem, COO of Fibrus.

First Minister and deputy First Minister celebrate NI's leading position as a fu...

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