Latest news with #NorthSouthMinisterialCouncil
Irish Independent
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill not ruling out run in presidential election
Asked if she was considering putting her name forward, Ms O'Neill said Sinn Féin was working its way through deliberations on selecting a candidate. Speaking at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh, Ms O'Neill said she has plenty to do as First Minister, but did not rule herself out as a candidate. The election for the next president is expected to take place in October. When asked if she would put her name forward as a candidate, Ms O'Neill said: 'I am working our way through our deliberations as we speak.' She also called for voting rights in presidential elections to be extended to Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland. I could be elected Uachtarán, but I can't vote in that election 'Just to say, we obviously also haven't concluded our own deliberations in terms of the presidential race itself,' she said. 'I think I've plenty to do being as First Minister, but I think that the fact remains that I could stand for election, I could be elected Uachtarán na hÉireann, but I can't vote in that election. 'So that's where there's a deficit, and what we need to see is presidential voting rights extended to the North, so that Irish citizens in the North can vote for their Uachtarán.' Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was not aware of any engagement with former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood about becoming the Fianna Fáil candidate for the presidency. It has been reported that Mr Eastwood is considering a bid for Áras an Uachtaráin. Asked to confirm if Mr Eastwood had been approached by the party, Mr Martin challenged the basis for the question, adding: 'There's been no contact with me, there's been no engagement that I am aware of from the Fianna Fail party and it hasn't been on the agenda at all.' Mr Martin said he was 'surprised' to hear Mr Eastwood was considering a run, but 'it's open to everybody to put themselves forward'.
Leader Live
20-06-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Leaders on both sides of the border urge completion of Casement Park
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill said that it is now time for all those involved to sit around the table and find a way to start and complete the project. Irish premier Micheal Martin said the opportunity to build the stadium should 'be seized', while deputy premier Simon Harris warned against looking back to see that the moment was 'squandered'. Earlier this month, a UK Government pledge of £50 million for the development of the west Belfast GAA stadium was included in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' spending review. However, that pledge still leaves the project far from its funding target under current plans. Plans for a 34,000-capacity stadium at the site have been mired in uncertainty because of a major funding gap. Stormont ministers committed £62.5 million to Casement in 2011, as part of a strategy to revamp it along with football's Windsor Park and the rugby ground at Ravenhill. While the two other Belfast-based projects went ahead, the redevelopment of Casement was delayed for several years because of legal challenges by local residents. The estimated cost spiralled in the interim. Speaking at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Armagh, Ms O'Neill said it is time for all partners to 'find a way to complete' Casement Park. Ms O'Neill said: 'We all have a role in making sure we get to that point.' Asked if the GAA should reconsider the plans for the west Belfast stadium development based on existing commitments for funding, Ms O'Neill said the stadium is now more expensive than if it had been built 'a long time ago'. She said the delays were due to a 'whole plague of problems' including planning and political issues. She said the redevelopment would bring 'major social and economic benefits'. Ms O'Neill added that Casement Park is an Executive flagship project. 'We now know what the pot of funding that we have on the table, but now it's time for all partners involved to get together and sit around the table and find a way now to complete and start the work on the project and to complete the project,' she added. 'I think we all have a role to play in terms of making sure we get to that point. 'But I think it's now time that we now know and understand the quantum of funding, that we now sit down together and actually work out the next step.' Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said it is 'now over to the GAA' to set out their expectations on their own contribution to the west Belfast stadium and any potential revisions to the development. She said there was a 'significant amount of need' in other sporting areas across the region with other facilities also needing to be upgraded. She added: 'We need to do so with fairness and equity. 'They are sitting on, I think, approximately £161 or £162 million worth of public spending. 'It's now over to the GAA to decide can they cut their coat according to their cloth, or what their expectations are in relation to their own contribution.' She added that the GAA can 'do a huge amount' with existing funding commitments for Casement Park, and that the GAA should indicate what its contribution increase should be. Mr Martin said the Irish Government had given a 'very substantial' allocation to the project. 'I believe the prospect really exists for a stadium to be agreed and built and this is an opportunity that should be seized in a practical and realistic way.' Mr Harris said the recent UK funding announcement was a 'huge step forward' for the project. He said the Irish Government stands ready to assist the project and warned against looking back to see that the moment was 'squandered'.
Irish Examiner
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
First Minister O'Neill remains vague about potential presidential candidacy
The North's First Minister Michelle O'Neill has failed to rule herself out as a potential candidate for the Irish presidential election. When asked to comment on speculation that she may throw her hat into the ring, Ms O'Neill was coy, only saying: "I think I have plenty to do as first minister." Asked whether or not she was considering it, she responded: "I am... working our way through deliberations as we speak." Sinn Féin is in the midst of a consultation process with members on how it will proceed in terms of the election. "It's a very important and significant role. Sinn Féin could have a candidate or support someone from outside of Sinn Féin. There are merits in both options," a party spokesperson said. While remaining vague on her own ambitions in terms of the presidency, Ms O'Neill was clear on wanting to see voting rights extended to citizens in the North. I could stand for election, I could be elected Uachtarán na hÉireann but I cannot vote in that election. "So that is where there is a deficit, and what we need to see is presidential voting rights extended to Irish citizens in the North," said Ms O'Neill. She was speaking at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh where Taoiseach Micheál Martin was also questioned about possible candidates to take on the role. Mr Martin appeared to be caught off-guard by a suggestion that former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood could be a possible Fianna Fáil candidate. "There has been no contact with me and there has been no engagement that I am aware of with the Fianna Fáil party and it has not been on the agenda," the Fianna Fáil leader said. The party has not yet concluded its deliberations with Mr Martin suggesting that it is likely to be later in the summer when they make an announcement on the matter.
Irish Examiner
20-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Leaders on both sides of the border urge completion of Casement Park
Leaders on both sides of the border have urged all partners to 'find a way' to complete Casement Park. Northern Ireland first minister Michelle O'Neill said that it is now time for all those involved to sit around the table and find a way to start and complete the project. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the opportunity to build the stadium should 'be seized', while Tánaiste Simon Harris warned against looking back to see that the moment was 'squandered'. Earlier this month, a British government pledge of £50m for the development of the west Belfast GAA stadium was included in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' spending review. However, that pledge still leaves the project far from its funding target under current plans. Plans for a 34,000-capacity stadium at the site have been mired in uncertainty because of a major funding gap. Stormont ministers committed £62.5m to Casement in 2011, as part of a strategy to revamp it along with football's Windsor Park and the rugby ground at Ravenhill. While the two other Belfast-based projects went ahead, the redevelopment of Casement was delayed for several years because of legal challenges by local residents. The estimated cost spiralled in the interim. Speaking at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Armagh, Ms O'Neill said it is time for all partners to 'find a way to complete' Casement Park. Ms O'Neill said: 'We all have a role in making sure we get to that point.' Asked if the GAA should reconsider the plans for the west Belfast stadium development based on existing commitments for funding, Ms O'Neill said the stadium is now more expensive than if it had been built 'a long time ago'. She said the delays were due to a 'whole plague of problems' including planning and political issues. She said the redevelopment would bring 'major social and economic benefits'. Ms O'Neill added that Casement Park is an Executive flagship project. 'We now know what the pot of funding that we have on the table, but now it's time for all partners involved to get together and sit around the table and find a way now to complete and start the work on the project and to complete the project,' she added. 'I think we all have a role to play in terms of making sure we get to that point. 'But I think it's now time that we now know and understand the quantum of funding, that we now sit down together and actually work out the next step.' Deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly said it is 'now over to the GAA' to set out their expectations on their own contribution to the west Belfast stadium and any potential revisions to the development. She said there was a 'significant amount of need' in other sporting areas across the region with other facilities also needing to be upgraded. She added: 'We need to do so with fairness and equity. 'They are sitting on, I think, approximately £161 or £162m worth of public spending. 'It's now over to the GAA to decide can they cut their coat according to their cloth, or what their expectations are in relation to their own contribution.' She added that the GAA can 'do a huge amount' with existing funding commitments for Casement Park, and that the GAA should indicate what its contribution increase should be. Mr Martin said the Irish Government had given a 'very substantial' allocation to the project. 'I believe the prospect really exists for a stadium to be agreed and built and this is an opportunity that should be seized in a practical and realistic way.' Mr Harris said the recent British funding announcement was a 'huge step forward' for the project. He said the Irish Government stands ready to assist the project and warned against looking back to see that the moment was 'squandered'.
Irish Independent
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Michelle O'Neill not ruling out run in presidential election
Asked if she was considering putting her name forward, Ms O'Neill said Sinn Féin is working its way through deliberations on selecting a candidate. Speaking at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Armagh, Ms O'Neill said she has plenty to do as First Minister but she did not rule herself out as a candidate. The election for the next president of Ireland is expected to take place in October. When asked if she would put her name forward as a candidate, Ms O'Neill said: 'I am…. working our way through our deliberations as we speak.' She also called for voting rights in presidential elections to be extended to Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland. 'Just to say we obviously also haven't concluded our own deliberations in terms of the presidential race itself,' she added. 'I think I've plenty to do being First Minister, but I think that the fact remains that I could stand for election, I could be elected Uachtaran na hÉireann, but I can't vote in that election. 'So that's where there's a deficit and what we need to see is presidential voting rights extended to the north, so that Irish citizens in the North can vote for their Uachtaran.' Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he is not aware of any engagement with former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood over becoming the Fianna Fáil candidate for the Irish presidency. It has been reported that Mr Eastwood is considering a bid for Aras an Uachtarain. ADVERTISEMENT Asked to confirm if Mr Eastwood had been approached by the Fianna Fail party, Mr Martin challenged the basis for the question, adding: 'There's been no contact with me, there's been no engagement that I am aware of from the Fianna Fáil party and it hasn't been on the agenda at all.' Mr Martin said he was 'surprised' to hear Mr Eastwood was considering a run but said 'it's open to everybody to put themselves forward'. He said Mr Eastwood was a 'very effective parliamentarian' but Fianna Fáil had not concluded on deliberations 'at all'. 'We will make our choices as a party, and we haven't concluded deliberations at all,' he added. 'As you can see from recent commentary, and I think from previous experiences and previous presidential elections, there seems to be a tendency that later in the summer might be a more optimal time to be announcing candidates than earlier in the summer. 'That's where we are and we haven't made any decisions.' Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said that a head of state already exists in the province. 'I don't have any opinion on a particular candidate, but all I can say is, like we live in a world where there's a constitutional reality and there's a constitutional aspiration, and that's set out very clearly in the Belfast-Good Friday Agreement and the mechanisms around that,' she added. 'We have a head of state here in Northern Ireland, we are a full part of the United Kingdom, until such times as the people of Northern Ireland and the Republic both to decide otherwise. 'So that's why it doesn't apply in NI. I am supportive of the continuum of the current situation and the equilibrium and balance that was carefully negotiated and endorsed by people of Northern Ireland in the Belfast-Good Friday Agreement.'
