‘It brings into question how the peace process works’ – First Minister Michelle O’Neillpublished at 09:55 BST
09:55 BST
Image source, Getty Images
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill, who is among the protesters on Garvaghy Road, says the reignition of the Drumcree dispute “brings into question how this whole peace process works”.
Some in the crowd blocking the Garvaghy Road this morning have been heard shouting “bring Stormont down” while O’Neill says there are those in “Orange Order and those within political unionism that want to drag us backwards”.
Stormont – Northern Ireland’s devolved government – has existed for almost 30 years as a power-sharing arrangement between the largest nationalist and unionist parties. It has collapsed several times over the decades when one side or the other has withdrawn from government.
The last time it happened was February 2022 with it taking about two years before the institutions were up and running again.
Asked if the power-sharing could collapse, O’Neill says: “You heard it about the people’s view of Stormont. You heard it about the terms of politics working for them, and you hear it here time and time again and we’ve certainly heard it over the last 24 hours.
“What’s the point? What’s the point whenever people are going to railroad over their rights? Whenever they’re going to try to roll back in 28 years of progress?
“But I can tell you what we’re about. We’re about the future. We’re about building on our peace and progress. We’re about not allowing people to bring us back.”