Michelle O’Neill says ‘jury is still out’ on government

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill said “the jury is still out” on Britain’s new government.

The Sinn Féin deputy leader was speaking at the party’s annual general meeting, Ard Fais, in Athlone.

It will be Sinn Féin’s first meeting since Mr O’Neill became the first Irish nationalist to become Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.

He called for further devolution of powers to Stormont, saying the New Labor government’s initial actions were yet another “broken promise”.

Northern Ireland’s power-sharing institutions were reinstated in February for the first time in two years.

Addressing party members on Friday night, Mr O’Neill said the four parties in the devolved government were “working together with unity of purpose”.

“And we are determined to deliver good public services, good governance, economic growth and strong communities on which we all depend,” she added.

Mr O’Neill said the change of government in July was an “opportunity to improve relations between Ireland and the UK”.

But she said “the jury is certainly out” on how the government will implement its commitments under the Good Friday Agreement.

“Their first actions demonstrate the same thing: failed austerity and broken promises,” she added.

He criticized Labour’s plans to cut winter fuel costs, saying the “financial constraints” placed on Stormont executives were “limiting our ability to act”.

The Sinn Féin deputy leader added: “That’s why we need more financial strength.”

“But everything shows one thing: Only by disciplined ourselves can we build a better future.

“All authority and all decisions should be made at home on this island.”

In July, Sinn Féin became Northern Ireland’s largest party in Westminster, but no members of the party sit in parliament.

The Irish Republican Party is also the largest at Stormont and local council level and is the main opposition party in the Republic of Ireland.

He is aiming to join Ireland’s government for the first time after the next general election, which is just a few months away.

However, the party has fallen in recent opinion polls in the Republic of Ireland and performed worse than expected in June’s local and European elections.

Mr O’Neill said the party was “ready to fight when a general election is called”.

He said the party’s success in Westminster “shows that Sinn Féin can reaffirm our mission and that change can happen”.

Sinn Féin’s deputy leader said the party’s “goal is a united and inclusive Ireland”.

In his speech, Mr O’Neill called for the government to “fully implement” its commitment to repeal the Troubled Legacy Act.

She also reaffirmed the party’s commitment to the Casement Park GAA stadium project in west Belfast.

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou MacDonald will deliver the keynote address at the close of Ard Féin on Saturday.

If there’s one thing Sinn Féin hates, it’s Partition.

But when it comes to polling on the party, the picture appears to be evenly divided.

Sinn Féin has emerged as the largest party in Northern Ireland, holding the most seats in Stormont, Westminster and local councils.

However, support in the Republic of Ireland is low.

With a general election perhaps just weeks away, Sinn Féin’s chances of winning its first government may be untouched.

But the Irish Republican Party, Sinn Féin, which wants a united Ireland, has bounced back before and is aiming to bounce back again.

In recent months, the country has sought to clarify its policies on immigration, which is believed to have contributed to the overwhelmingly poor recent election results in the south.

And this year’s Ardface has refocused its focus on key policy areas where it appears to be strongest, such as housing.

Sinn Féin’s slogan for this year’s conference is ‘Time for Change’. Will voters agree when the time comes?

You can watch Mary Lou McDonald’s speech at Sinn Féin Ald Feis and follow the live coverage from 18:00 BST on the BBC News NI website.