Irish Republican News · January 23, 2017

Michelle O’Neill is Sinn Fein’s new leader at Stormont

Mid-Ulster Assembly member Michelle O’Neill is to lead Sinn Fein into the Six County Assembly elections in March, it has been announced.

She takes over from Martin McGuinness, who last week announced his decision to quit active politics over serious health issues. That came amid a major breakdown of relations between DUP and Sinn Fein, which triggered the collapse of the powersharing executive in Belfast.

Although formerly the agriculture minister and more recently the health minister, Ms O’Neill is not well known outside her own constituency and is a relative newcomer to the Sinn Fein frontline. She has a background in social welfare issues and has been more prominent in in recent weeks since Mr McGuinness became ill.

She was formerly the political adviser to Mid-Ulster MP Francie Molloy before being elected to the Stormont Assembly in 2007.

As the head of Sinn Fein’s Stormont team, Ms O’Neill could become deputy first minister in March if Sinn Fein is returned as the largest nationalist party after the election, or First Minister if Sinn Fein is the largest party overall.

Announcing the appointment, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said Ms O’Neill represented a “new generation” for the party. He said: “This is a handover of a primary leadership position from my generation, from Martin’s generation, to another generation.”

He added: “As a united all-Ireland team, we will give her the space and support to find her own voice and continue the good work Martin pioneered.”

Ms O’Neill said being a republican was her “way of life”. She told Fein supporters at Stormont: “I won’t let you down”, and added: “This is the biggest honour and privilege of my life.”

She said she would continue Mr McGuinness’s “good work”.

“I have never been afraid of a challenge and I have never been afraid to act,” she said.

The 26 County Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan was among the first to congratulate Ms O’Neill. He said it was “a very proud and special day for her and her family”.

“I know that we share a sense of urgency in our determination to see the power-sharing institutions effectively functioning at Stormont once the election has taken place,” he added.

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