Michelle O'Neill on Saturday became the first nationalist leader of Northern Ireland's (Ulster) government after parliament there returned after a two-year boycott by the largest pro-British party in the province, which is part of the United Kingdom.
The nomination of a Sinn Fein representative will be confirmed at a special meeting of the devolved legislature, at which the deputy first minister and ministers will also be appointed.
Under the Good Friday or Belfast Agreement of 1998, which ended 30 years of violence under British rule in Northern Ireland, the posts of First Minister and Deputy First Minister are equal. But the appointment of a Roman Catholic pro-Irish first minister in a nation created as a Protestant-majority state under British rule is highly symbolic. This reflects not only Sinn Féin's position as the largest party in Northern Ireland, but also the changing demographics since the island of Ireland was split into two self-governing entities in 1921.
"This is a historic day. It's about the future," O'Neill said on the X platform hours before being sworn in. "As First Minister for All, I am determined to lead positive change for all and work together with others to advance our society in a spirit of respect, cooperation and equality."
Earlier this week, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou Macdonald recalled that the 1921 split was created "on the basis of an embedded Unionist (pro-British) majority" in Northern Ireland, originally called Ulster. "That day is over," she said flatly. She said the possibility of a Sinn Féin-led government in Dublin after the next election there could lead to "a new constitutional settlement ending the division" of Irish people.
In the immediate future, O'Neill faces the urgent problem of fixing the budget constraints and crumbling public services that have sparked widespread industrial disputes in Northern Ireland (Ulster). On Monday, she called the restoration of the local parliament "a day of optimism" and called for joint efforts to tackle the problems.
Michelle O'Neill, 47, is the first minister nominated since May 2022, when Sinn Féin became the largest party in the election for the 90-seat assembly, which is responsible for areas of domestic policy when it sits. But she was unable to take the role due to a boycott of parliament by the biggest pro-UK unionist party, the DUP, over trade rules for Northern Ireland after Brexit.
The province shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland and it is the UK's only land border with the European Union. But according to the 1998 peace agreement, it must be opened. London has struck a deal with Brussels on Northern Ireland - on top of its overall Brexit trade deal. This agreement imposes port checks on goods coming into Northern Ireland from mainland Britain – that is, England, Scotland and Wales. However, unionists said effectively keeping only Northern Ireland in the EU's single market and customs union risked it being separated from the rest of the UK, making Irish reunification more likely.
The DUP finally agreed a deal with London this week, including the scrapping of routine border checks, including along the "Irish Sea border", paving the way to resolving the issues.
The UK government will now provide a £3.3 billion package to help Northern Ireland's struggling public services after a series of strikes in recent weeks over pay.
"We will not hand over our land to the EU," pro-British campaigner Mark McKendree told fellow loyalists on Thursday, urging them to "mobilize" in protest. Other royalists, however, support the agreement. /BGNES, AFP
