Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein)

I wish to talk about the inclusion and leadership role Sinn Féin has taken in this. I wanted to talk about the benefits of an all-island healthcare system, one that is not based on a two-tier system. It is really important, listening to the contributions to the debate, that I outline some of the steps our party has taken and the work we have been doing.

Sinn Féin has been in dialogue and negotiating but also sharing power at Stormont with unionist parties for 20-plus years. We are listening to and engaged with civic unionism, not only political unionism. On taking office as First Minister for all, Michelle O'Neill said in the Assembly:

As an Irish republican I pledge cooperation and genuine honest effort with all of those colleagues who are British, of a unionist tradition and who cherish the Union.

She has lived up to that commitment in both word and deed. Her first visit as First Minister was to the loyalist Shankill Road to meet the community along with Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. She also said:

I will serve everyone equally and be a First Minister for all. To all of you who are British and unionist [I say this]: your national identity, culture and traditions are important to me. I will be inclusive and respectful to you. None of us are being asked to surrender who we are ... Let's walk this two-way street together and meet one another halfway. I will be doing so with an open hand and with heart.

I will give examples of how Michelle led the way on unionism and inclusion. She went to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the inauguration of King Charles III. She laid a laurel wreath at the cenotaph in Belfast for Remembrance Sunday last year and just last month. It is really important. We are engaged in dialogue. We have been out on the doors in these unionist areas. I have knocked on doors, spoken to people myself and talked about the benefits of a united Ireland. We have to remember the work our party has done since the Good Friday Agreement.