"Michelle O'Neill Takes the Lead in Northern Ireland's Government Funding Priorities"
Northern Ireland's new first minister, Michelle O'Neill, has identified funding as the top priority for the Stormont Executive, emphasizing the need for a better funding model from Westminster to address underfunding of public services. The UK government has offered a £3.3bn funding package, including funds for public sector pay claims and public service stabilization, but with conditions for additional revenue raising. O'Neill also expressed a commitment to addressing urgent issues such as affordable childcare, housing, and job creation, while the new Health Minister, Robin Swann, aims to resolve current industrial disputes in the health service. O'Neill believes a united Ireland could be achieved within the next decade and maintains that pursuing constitutional change can coexist with power sharing, emphasizing the importance of the people's decision as outlined in the Good Friday Agreement.