Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Speaking as a republican it was a very emotional day to see Michelle O'Neill become First Minister of the North. This is historic. The partitioned part of our island was designed to ensure something like this could not happen, but happen it did. We have witnessed historic change happening in the North in front of our very eyes. This change is happening right across our island. The Government needs to put this change into the context of the wider politics of Irish unity. The most recent Ipsos poll inThe Irish Timessuggests the number of unionists in the North who say they would not be able to accept Irish unity has fallen from 32% to 23%. This is significant. Believe it or not, 60% of people in the North, unionist and nationalist, believe there should be a referendum on Irish unity within the next ten years. A citizens' assembly on Irish unity needs to be convened. We need that all-of-society and all-island conversation. We need engagement about the future, what it looks like, how we transition to it, and how we provide public services. These are all the things that really matter in people’s lives right across the island. This engagement must include those of a unionist persuasion and those of a British identity.

The restoration of the political institutions in the north and Michelle O'Neill's election as First Minister is a hugely positive development but the executive faces challenges including chronic underfunding as a result of Tory austerity. Public services have been left on their knees. The much talked about £3 billion the British Government released is nowhere near enough. The North is playing catch up and all parties must come together to call on the British Government to finally adequately resource public services. We need to see this collaborative approach as we enter a new era of politics, North and South, if we are to improve the quality of lives for everyone who shares our island.

Sinn Féin is now the biggest political party on the island and we will play our part as we enter this new era. It is incumbent on all parties across the island, and particularly those in Government, to do the same. Right now Michelle O'Neill and her team are fulfilling her commitment to be a First Minister for all.

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