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Northern Ireland taking ‘diversity’ approach to coronavirus pandemic
Northern Ireland’s deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said there is a “diversity” of approach to tackling the coronavirus crisis within the region’s executive.
“I don’t think it is any secret that there is a diversity of views in the executive, not in terms of our joined-up approach in terms of our number one priority, which is about saving lives, but there is certainty a difference emphasis in terms of speed and approach to how we bring forward measures such as testing, PPE, those issues of concern,” she said.
“There is a difference of emphasis for sure but as five parties around the executive table there is a joined-up priority in terms of being able to save as many lives as we possibly can.
“I often hear when there is disagreement in the executive that it is painted as an orange vs green, Sinn Fein vs DUP, London vs Dublin.
“Can I say very clearly that is not the case, this is about what is about what is the best action at the right time, how do we save lives, this is about adhering to the World Health Organisation’s advice, how we do best by our people and I, as a political leader, have a job to do, to make sure that when I feel like something isn’t perhaps working in the way in which it should, or being dealt with, with speed in the way in which it should, then I have an obligation to say that.
“But I will continue to work with executive colleagues to make sure that we do our very best for people in what is the most challenging of times and I have no doubt in everybody’s motivation to try and do the right thing by people.”
