O'Neill Claims DUP Blocked Her From Glasgow Summit

Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill stated on Thursday that Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has prevented her from representing the region at the Economic Forum in Glasgow. O’Neill, who is also the vice-president of Sinn Féin, posted the announcement on the social media platform X. The forum was scheduled to take place on Friday in the Scottish city.

According to O’Neill, she was expected to hold a side meeting with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham. She was also set to meet John Swinney, the First Minister of Scotland, and Rhun ap Iorwerth, the First Minister of Wales. O’Neill said the meeting with Burnham would have focused on the budget for Stormont, the devolved parliament in Belfast.

O’Neill described Little-Pengelly’s decision as a reactive measure driven by internal pressures within the Democratic Unionist Party. She characterized the move as a stunt designed to address electoral problems rather than a policy choice. In her statement, she noted that the people of Northern Ireland would not be represented at the event due to what she called a reckless approach by the Deputy First Minister.

The dispute arises against a backdrop of ongoing tensions following the Drumcree parading dispute. Police are currently investigating members of Sinn Féin for participating in a protest on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown. The protest was held on September 27 to stop an Orange Order parade from proceeding down the predominantly nationalist street. O’Neill attended a police station for an interview last week and defended her presence at the protest as the right action to take.

Within the DUP, leaders are divided on how to respond to the situation. Carla Lockhart, the Member of Parliament for Upper Bann, has called for the leadership to withdraw Little-Pengelly from the Stormont Executive. Such a move would trigger a collapse of the joint government structure, forcing O’Neill from her post as well. The executive would be unable to make major decisions, though individual ministers could remain in place for up to six months and the Assembly could continue to sit.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson has resisted pressure to remove Little-Pengelly, arguing that dissolving the Executive would harm unionism. Lockhart resigned as a party officer last week over her disagreement with the leadership. Other party members have proposed alternative actions, such as ending joint engagements between the First and Deputy First Ministers. The DUP’s main decision-making body met on Thursday to consider these options.

The legal situation regarding the parades remains complex. The Parades Commission had initially allowed the Orange Order to parade down the Garvaghy Road for the first time in nearly 30 years. This decision led to a two-week standoff at the site. When the parade was ultimately stopped by a large number of protesters, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant overturned the commission’s decision and banned the procession. A High Court judge upheld Bryant’s decision on Wednesday.

Police have stated that invitations to attend interviews were sent to individuals reasonably suspected of committing offenses during the unnotified protest. Sinn Féin lawmakers Pearse Doherty and Matt Carthy attended a voluntary interview with police in Belfast on Thursday. They are among several representatives from Sinn Féin and People Before Profit to be questioned by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Doherty said the party was proud to have supported the Garvaghy Road community and defended the peace process.

O’Neill said she has contacted the British Secretary of State to make her position clear. She stated that she will continue to protect peace and progress while representing all citizens. The immediate political fallout from the Drumcree dispute continues to shape interactions between the governing parties in Belfast and their counterparts in London, Edinburgh, and Cardiff.