Programme for government details to be unveiled

Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said it’s a “milestone” and now the public is set to pass its judgement on Stormont’s programme for government (PfG).

It was signed off by the Northern Ireland Executive on Thursday more than seven months after the return of devolution.

And as convention demands it will only be unveiled later on Monday when it is shown to MLAs and debated as the assembly returns from its summer recess.

So what do we know so far?

There are nine key priorities including cutting health waiting times; ending violence against women and girls; providing more social, affordable and sustainable housing; and protecting Lough Neagh and the environment.

The Justice Minister Naomi Long said the draft programme was not an “exhaustive list” of everything the executive would do.

Instead, it would “prioritise certain aspects of the work of the executive”.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said progress would be measured month-to-month.

Much has also been made of the fact there is four-party agreement.

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) withheld support for the recent budget because of the allocation of cash to the health ministry which it holds.

This time the new Ulster Unionist leader-in-waiting Mike Nesbitt said voting against the programme for government wasn’t even on his radar.

But the SDLP leader of the opposition Matthew O’Toole said of the draft PfG “to call it broad brush would be generous”.

It is the first time a Stormont executive has managed to agree and implement a programme for government since 2011.

They agreed one in 2016 which went out to public consultation, only for the Sinn Féín First Minister Martin McGuinness to resign bringing down the executive

Since then, Covid and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) boycott over the Irish Sea border prevented progress in a new programme for government.