Sinn Fein’s Stormont leader, Michelle O’Neill, was speaking in the assembly after party whips met to discuss how to expedite outstanding legislative bills through to completion before the end of the mandate.
O’Neill was appearing in the chamber for the first time since she was removed from her post as deputy first minister following the resignation of the DUP first minister, Paul Givan, in protest at Brexit’s Northern Ireland protocol.
She made particular reference to uncertainty that now surrounds a scheduled state apology next month for victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland.
“The DUP’s actions in unilaterally resigning from the executive are reckless and have caused concern and uncertainty for businesses, for workers, for families and campaigners on a range of many important issues,” she said.
“In terms of the survivors of historical institutional abuse they have caused real hurt and real trauma.
“While the DUP must bear responsibility for that, I am also very conscious that those of us who are serious about showing responsible leadership and delivering for people can and should seek to salvage what we can from the chaos the DUP have caused.”
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