Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There are moments in life and politics where you can feel the significance as the moment unfolds, where the political landscape is fundamentally altered and you sense that all is changed, and changed utterly. The restoration of the political institutions in the North last Saturday week was such a moment. The re-establishment of the Executive and Assembly after nearly two years is an immensely positive development for workers, families, communities, the economy, the North and, indeed, for Ireland as a whole. It is a most welcome moment of progress to be celebrated. I wish all the new ministers of the Executive from all parties the very best as they now work together to deliver good government for everyone. I especially express my good wishes to my Sinn Féin Party colleagues and friends: First Minister, Michelle O'Neill; finance minister, Caoimhe Archibald; economy minister, Conor Murphy, infrastructure minister, John O'Dowd; and Aisling Reilly, who has taken up an important junior Ministry in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

The election of Michelle O'Neill as First Minister is truly historic. For the first time ever, a nationalist leads government in the North, in a state that was designed and operated to ensure this could never happen. It is a genuine moment of transformation and it is emblematic of the seismic generational change that is happening across Ireland. A century after the foundation of a state designed to keep people down, designed to divide, we now emerge into the light of the possibility of tomorrow. Michelle O'Neill will be a First Minister for all. She will lead an Executive for all with the goal of advancing the politics of inclusivity, progress, partnership and equality. The days of second-class citizenship are over for everyone and they are not coming back.

I mean everyone, regardless of background, religion or tradition, each with an equal stake in the future. No distinctions, no qualifications and no exceptions, no ifs or buts - everyone equal, full stop. Twenty six years after the Good Friday Agreement brought a terrible conflict to an end, delivered peace and changed the future for a generation, today's political leaders have the incredible chance to ensure that the young people of today have the opportunity and the prosperous future they deserve.

The first responsibility of the new Executive is to make life better for everyone, for workers, families and communities. The Executive faces many serious challenges, including tackling the crisis in the health service, shielding households from soaring living costs and delivering fair pay for public sector workers, those who admirably work in services that have been left on their knees and who should not have to protest on picket lines for decent pay. Overcoming these challenges will require real partnership, co-operation and a real commitment to politics that works. Tory austerity has ravaged the North of Ireland and has done real damage to society and to people's potential and aspirations. This is recognised by both the Executive and the newly-formed Opposition. To say that the North is not correctly funded is a tragic understatement, unfortunately. The Tories in London care little for the people of the North, whether they be nationalist, unionist or neither. They never have and never will and austerity is the sharpest expression of that truth.

A collective effort is needed to ensure that the British Government does not get away with short changing this generation. There is an exciting alternative to Tory austerity, an opportunity to drive real economic change, attract game-changing investment and create well-paid jobs. The North enjoys the advantage of access to the Single Market and the all-island economy. There is no limit to the potential of our all-island economy. It provides an immense opportunity to take Ireland to the next level and we agree with the Government that this is something we must seize with both hands. Of course, the Irish Government has a central role to play, not alone as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement but also in driving North-South co-operation and collaboration in building the all-island economy and delivering the much-needed funding for key infrastructure such as the A5, Casement Park and other strategic projects. We look forward to the re-engagement of the North-South ministerial bodies to advance this positive, uplifting vision.

As we work in partnership to build a better future for all, republicans continue to work for the reunification of Ireland, just as those who cherish the union will continue to argue for its preservation. Ireland is changing and we are called upon to help shape that future together. I believe that Ireland's most promising future is found in reunification. The Government must prepare and plan for constitutional change and for unity referendums in this decade. Such referendums are provided for under the Good Friday Agreement and that will not change, regardless of the belligerence of the Tory Government in London. The unity conversation belongs to unionists as much as it belongs to republicans. A new Ireland must be home to all, a home where everyone's identity, heritage, tradition and culture matters. Let us pursue and debate our political aspirations openly, honestly and in the spirit of goodwill, friendship and generosity. With the restoration of the political institutions, we hold in our hands a golden chance to match the hopes of a generation. We are striving for something better, to meet the challenges of today and realise the promise of tomorrow. Our job now is to reach beyond expectations, not to remain hemmed in by the past but to reach hopefully for a future that is ambitious for progress for workers and families and ambitious to unlock the limitless potential of our all-island economy and the incredible talent and potential of our young people. This is a time to embrace change and progress and above all, to embrace partnership and good government for all.

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