Opposition leader Matthew O’Toole also contended that the Stormont Executive has failed to deliver on its own priorities, such as childcare, child poverty and social housing. First Minister Michelle O’Neill at Parliament Buildings (PA)Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O’Neill became the first nationalist First Minister upon the Assembly’s return on February 3, 2024, serving alongside deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly of the DUP. While the two leaders took part in joint media interviews on the first anniversary of restoration and defended their record on delivery, they did not on Tuesday. SDLP leader Mr O’Toole told media: “I’m concerned about what it says about the culture of our politics that the two big parties are happy to prioritise division over delivery. Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly (Liam McBurney/PA)“On day one, childcare was supposed to be a priority, along with child poverty, building social houses, fixing the crumbling waste water infrastructure,” he said.

Source: The Herald February 03, 2026 18:17 UTC