Latest news with #OurPlan:DoingWhatMattersMost
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Stormont backs long-awaited programme for government
Stormont has voted through the Executive's long-awaited programme for government. Just 10 MLAs voted against the plan and 70 for following many hours of debate across the day. First Minister Michelle O'Neill pledged transparency over progress to achieve the targets set out. She hailed the publication of the first programme for government (PFG) agreed by a Stormont executive since 2011 marked a 'significant day' for the coalition in Belfast. Meanwhile, summing up on Monday evening, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the document does not represent the 'totality' of the Executive's ambitions, but is about prioritisation in a fiscally constrained environment. When a draft version of the plan was published in September last year, critics expressed concern that the governance blueprint lacked tangible targets or milestones by which to measure progress on the administration's stated priorities. The final version, which was signed off by ministers last Thursday, does include a range of targets. Among them is goal of building more than 5,000 new social homes by 2027. Ministers also want to see an additional 70,000 hospital patients treated as part of efforts to reduce the region's spiralling waiting lists. The document, called Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most, aims to increase renewable electricity capacity by 40% within the current Assembly mandate, and progress a plan for speeding up the justice system. Ministers have pledged to keep the public informed on progress by publishing annual reports. Presenting the plan to the Assembly on Monday, Ms O'Neill said: 'We will be open and transparent about the progress we're making, and we'll also take every possible step to ensure this programme is delivering what we set out to do.' The Sinn Fein vice president, who jointly leads the Executive with Ms Little-Pengelly of the DUP, said ministers would now 'get on with the job of delivering'. She said while the four parties in the mandatory coalition do not agree on everything, she said they had attempted to prioritise the areas where there is agreement in the PFG. 'We bring this programme for government to the house today as another step forward in our efforts to improve people's lives,' Ms O'Neill told MLAs. 'It is about making positive difference and making things better for people. 'We will not be found wanting when it comes to doing everything we possibly can to deliver for people today, but also into the future.' The PFG sets out three key missions – people, planet and prosperity. These are linked to an underpinning cross-cutting commitment to peace. The document also highlights nine policy areas, entitled Doing What Matters Most Today, that the coalition will prioritise in the remainder of the mandate. These are: Grow a globally competitive and sustainable economy; Deliver more affordable, accessible, high-quality early learning and childcare; Cut health waiting times; End violence against women and girls; Better support children and young people with special educational needs; Provide more social, affordable and sustainable housing; Make communities safer; Protect Lough Neagh and the environment; and Reform and transform public services. It has been published a little over a year after powersharing returned to Stormont after a two-year political impasse in Northern Ireland over post-Brexit trading arrangements. Leader of the Assembly's official opposition, SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole, branded the plan 'late, limp and listless'. He reflected on the time period since an executive last agreed a PFG. 'The absence of a programme for government was both a symptom and a cause of dysfunctionality,' he said. 'So, in agreeing this PFG, the Executive has made progress on the shamefully low bar that was set.' However, Mr O'Toole said it was not enough to simply publish a document. 'Despite the desire of this executive to be garlanded for simply existing, you do not get a passing grade for showing up to the exam hall,' he said. 'This document contains aspirations we share, but it is far short of the kind of clear, targeted plan that the people of Northern Ireland deserve after so many years of failure.' He added: 'This programme is better than nothing. It's a modest improvement on the draft. But it's a missed opportunity. It's nowhere near good enough. 'I say to the First and deputy First Minister, and indeed all ministers: 'Is this it?'' Ms Little-Pengelly hit back at the criticism from the Opposition, saying she had looked up the SDLP's plan, describing it as 14 pages, two of which were blank, and one of which was a full page picture of Mr O'Toole. 'It was a short document indeed … it took the SDLP some eight months to come up with that plan even though they were only negotiating with themselves,' she told MLAs. She concluded by saying the Executive is 'determined to deliver'.
The Independent
03-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
O'Neill pledges transparency around programme for government targets
Stormont's First Minister has pledged to be transparent over progress to achieve the targets set out in the Executive's new programme for government. Michelle O'Neill said the publication of the first programme for government (PFG) agreed by a Stormont executive since 2011 marked a 'significant day' for the coalition in Belfast. When a draft version of the plan was published in September last year, critics expressed concern that the governance blueprint lacked tangible targets or milestones by which to measure progress on the administration's stated priorities. The final version, which was signed off by ministers last Thursday, does include a range of targets. Among them is goal of building more than 5,000 new social homes by 2027. Ministers also want to see an additional 70,000 hospital patients treated as part of efforts to reduce the region's spiralling waiting lists. The document, called Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most, aims to increase renewable electricity capacity by 40% within the current Assembly mandate and progress a plan for speeding up the justice system. Ministers have pledged to keep the public informed on progress by publishing annual reports. Presenting the plan to the Assembly on Monday, Ms O'Neill said: 'We will be open and transparent about the progress we're making, and we'll also take every possible step to ensure this programme is delivering what we set out to do.' The Sinn Fein vice president, who jointly leads the Executive with DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, said ministers would now 'get on with the job of delivering'. She said while the four parties in the mandatory coalition do not agree on everything, she said they had attempted to prioritise the areas where there is agreement in the PFG. 'We bring this programme for government to the house today as another step forward in our efforts to improve people's lives,' Ms O'Neill told MLAs. 'It is about making positive difference and making things better for people. 'We will not be found wanting when it comes to doing everything we possibly can to deliver for people today, but also into the future.' The PFG sets out three key missions – people, planet and prosperity. These are linked to an underpinning cross-cutting commitment to peace. The document also highlights nine policy areas, entitled Doing What Matters Most Today, that the coalition will prioritise in the remainder of the mandate. These are: Grow a globally competitive and sustainable economy; Deliver more affordable, accessible, high-quality early learning and childcare; Cut health waiting times; End violence against women and girls; Better support children and young people with special educational needs; Provide more social, affordable and sustainable housing; Make communities safer; Protect Lough Neagh and the environment; and Reform and transform public services. It has been published a little over a year after powersharing returned to Stormont after a two-year political impasse in Northern Ireland over post-Brexit trading arrangements. Leader of the Assembly's official opposition, SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole, branded the plan 'late, limp and listless'. He reflected on the time period since an executive last agreed a PFG. 'The absence of a programme for government was both a symptom and a cause of dysfunctionality,' he said. 'So, in agreeing this PFG, the Executive has made progress on the shamefully low bar that was set.' However, Mr O'Toole said it was not enough to simply publish a document. 'Despite the desire of this executive to be garlanded for simply existing, you do not get a passing grade for showing up to the exam hall,' he said. 'This document contains aspirations we share, but it is far short of the kind of clear, targeted plan that the people of Northern Ireland deserve after so many years of failure.' He added: 'This programme is better than nothing. It's a modest improvement on the draft. But it's a missed opportunity. It's nowhere near good enough. 'I say to the First and deputy First Minister, and indeed all ministers: 'Is this it?''
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
O'Neill pledges transparency around programme for government targets
Stormont's First Minister has pledged to be transparent over progress to achieve the targets set out in the Executive's new programme for government. Michelle O'Neill said the publication of the first programme for government (PFG) agreed by a Stormont executive since 2011 marked a 'significant day' for the coalition in Belfast. When a draft version of the plan was published in September last year, critics expressed concern that the governance blueprint lacked tangible targets or milestones by which to measure progress on the administration's stated priorities. The final version, which was signed off by ministers last Thursday, does include a range of targets. Among them is goal of building more than 5,000 new social homes by 2027. By that date, ministers also want to see an additional 70,000 hospital patients treated per year. The document, called Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most, aims to increase renewable electricity capacity by 40% within the current Assembly mandate and progress a plan for speeding up the justice system. Ministers have pledged to keep the public informed on progress by publishing annual reports. Presenting the plan to the Assembly on Monday, Ms O'Neill said: 'We will be open and transparent about the progress we're making, and we'll also take every possible step to ensure this programme is delivering what we set out to do.' The Sinn Fein vice president, who jointly leads the Executive with DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, said ministers would now 'get on with the job of delivering'. She said while the four parties in the mandatory coalition do not agree on everything, she said they had attempted to prioritise the areas where there is agreement in the PFG. 'We bring this programme for government to the house today as another step forward in our efforts to improve people's lives,' Ms O'Neill told MLAs. 'It is about making positive difference and making things better for people. 'We will not be found wanting when it comes to doing everything we possibly can to deliver for people today, but also into the future.' The PFG sets out three key missions – people, planet and prosperity. These are linked to an underpinning cross-cutting commitment to peace. The document also highlights nine policy areas, entitled Doing What Matters Most Today, that the coalition will prioritise in the remainder of the mandate. These are: Grow a globally competitive and sustainable economy; Deliver more affordable, accessible, high-quality early learning and childcare; Cut health waiting times; End violence against women and girls; Better support children and young people with special educational needs; Provide more social, affordable and sustainable housing; Make communities safer; Protect Lough Neagh and the environment; and Reform and transform public services. Sinn Féin Ministers are determined to deliver real change for workers, families, and communities Ministers have agreed the Executive's Programme for Government, focusing on the issues that matter to you and your family Sinn Féin is working with others to build a brighter future — Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) February 27, 2025 It has been published a little over a year after powersharing returned to Stormont after a two-year political impasse in Northern Ireland over post-Brexit trading arrangements. Leader of the Assembly's official opposition, SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole, branded the plan 'late, limp and listless'. He reflected on the time period since an executive last agreed a PFG. 'The absence of a programme for government was both a symptom and a cause of dysfunctionality,' he said. 'So, in agreeing this PFG, the Executive has made progress on the shamefully low bar that was set.' However, Mr O'Toole said it was not enough to simply publish a document. 'Despite the desire of this executive to be garlanded for simply existing, you do not get a passing grade for showing up to the exam hall,' he said. 'This document contains aspirations we share, but it is far short of the kind of clear, targeted plan that the people of Northern Ireland deserve after so many years of failure.' He added: 'This programme is better than nothing. It's a modest improvement on the draft. But it's a missed opportunity. It's nowhere near good enough. 'I say to the First and deputy First Minister, and indeed all ministers: 'Is this it?''
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Stormont ministers agree programme for government
Stormont ministers have agreed the devolved Executive's programme for government. The ministers rubber-stamped the governance plan during a virtual meeting on Thursday morning. It is understood there were no dissenting voices during the meeting, which lasted just over half an hour. First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly are due to formally announce the agreement at a press conference at Stormont later on Thursday morning. The programme for government (pfg) will now go before the Assembly for consideration by MLAs. Ministers had been due to meet on Wednesday to green light the pfg but it was postponed at late notice. The hold up was blamed on an administrative issue, with Alliance Party Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir complaining he was not being provided with sufficient time to review the final document ahead of a planned Executive meeting to sign it off. A draft programme for government, which was an 88-page document titled Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most, was published last September ahead of an eight-week public consultation exercise. A final version was due to be agreed before the first anniversary of the return of devolution at the start of February, but that timeline was not met. At the time, Ms O'Neill blamed the delay on the Executive's need to respond to Storm Eowyn. The draft programme for government was framed by three key missions, people, planet and prosperity, with an underpinning cross-cutting commitment to peace. It set out nine policy areas that Executive ministers have agreed to prioritise in the two years remaining in this Assembly mandate. They were: growing a globally competitive and sustainable economy; delivering affordable childcare; cutting health waiting times; ending violence against women and girls; providing better support for children and young people with special educational needs; providing more social, affordable and sustainable housing; making communities safer; protecting Lough Neagh and the environment; and reforming and transforming public services. When the draft document was published, critics claimed it lacked tangible targets to measure progress in achieving its objectives.
BBC News
27-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Stormont Ministers to try again to agree programme for government
The Northern Ireland Executive will try again later to agree its long-delayed programme for government a day after the decision was postponed.A scheduled meeting of the four-party devolved administration was pulled on Wednesday after Alliance Party minister Andrew Muir said he wanted more time to review the final characterised it as a "storm in a teacup", but the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) described the further delay as a "farce".The draft programme for government was agreed in September 2024 and sent out for public consultation. 'Farce' The 88-page document, entitled Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most, sets out the executive's key priorities.A final version was expected to be agreed before the first anniversary of the restoration of Stormont's power-sharing government in early said he was "confident" the programme for government would be agreed when ministers hold their meeting on Thursday told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme on Wednesday his "only ask" was that the "finalised document would be received before the meeting so we could consider it".SDLP assembly member Matthew O'Toole, leader of the opposition at Stormont, criticised the further delay."This farce typifies the dysfunction we have seen since the return of the Stormont institutions last year," he Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister said it was "the latest episode in the Stormont farce", describing the institutions as an "unworkable system of government". Taoiseach visit Later on Thursday, First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly are due to meet the taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál will be his first visit to Northern Ireland since becoming taoiseach again in January following elections in is also expected to hold meetings with Alliance leader Naomi Long and SDLP leader Claire Hanna, and speak by phone with Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Mike will be greeted at Stormont's Parliament Buildings by Northern Ireland Assembly speaker Edwin taoiseach is also due to give a keynote address at the Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor Summit at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Belfast. When was the last programme for government agreed? It has been some time since a Stormont executive agreed a finalised programme for last time an executive managed to get one over the line was during the assembly's fourth term between 2011 and was also agreed in 2016 and went out to public before it could be passed, the power-sharing institutions collapsed following the resignation of then Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
