O'Neill faces criticism as nationalist first ministers sign agreement

The deputy first minister has accused republicanism of attempting to "weaponise the role of the first minister", as Michelle O'Neill met the first ministers of Wales and Scotland to discuss ways of "working more closely".

O'Neill, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, SNP leader John Swinney and Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth are currently meeting in Cardiff.

The group met in their capacity as party leaders, rather than as officials in their respective governments.

Ahead of the meeting, the leaders signed an agreement which said "Westminster's time is coming to an end", and that the UK government should "prepare" for constitutional change.

The memorandum of understanding said the parties recognised they have different constitutional positions and that each nation will determine its own future "in its own way and in its own time".

The agreement also commits Plaid Cymru, the SNP and Sinn Féin to strengthening co-operation in areas including the economy, renewable energy, relations with Europe and self-determination.

The meeting comes two days after US President Donald Trump said he would love to see a united Ireland.

O'Neill said the leaders were coming together "because we all want to break free of the shackles of Westminster".

"We're coming together at a moment of hope and opportunity for all our people.

"What we want is self-determination. What we want is to be able to decide our own future, and to bring that into the hands of our people," she said in a video posted on Sunday.

Speaking to Sky News about the meeting on Monday, O'Neill added that "ultimately, it's about how do we ensure that we get a collective voice that's heard very strongly in Westminster in relation to a constitutional change".

"For our part in Ireland it's about the fulfilment of the Good Friday Agreement itself, so it's a hugely opportune time that we're meeting on Monday given the commentary over the weekend in terms of constitutional change which just reflects where the debate is at," she said.

Sinn Féin's John O'Dowd said O'Neill was attending in her role as party deputy leader, adding it was "proper" that parties in favour of greater self- determination work with each other.

He argued that "political unionism have always used their roles to promote the union".

"Michelle is there as deputy leader of Sinn Féin, she is joined on that trip with Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of Sinn Féin, and she's meeting the leader of the SNP and Plaid Cymru in their capacities as leaders of their parties," O'Dowd told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme.

He added it was "quite clear that across these islands there's a growing demand for self-determination, whether that's in Wales, Scotland or here".

In Northern Ireland, the first and deputy first minister have identical powers and responsibilities.

Emma Little-Pengelly criticised O'Neill for attending the talks, saying "she has not sought any agreement or permission from me to travel, attend or sign anything as first minister".

Also speaking to Good Morning Ulster, Little-Pengelly said "we need to be very clear" that O'Neill is "meeting in her political role as a member of Sinn Féin, as the leader of Sinn Féin of the north, as she would described it herself, not on behalf of Northern Ireland, she's not signing anything on behalf of Northern Ireland".

"I looked very carefully at what was briefed out, what was reported, it was being reported as if this was a summit of first ministers," Little-Pengelly said.

"It is not a summit of first ministers. She may be first minister, which is of course a joint role along with myself, but she is there absolutely in a Sinn Féin capacity."

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson said "there's no first minister [of Northern Ireland] today", adding that the "vice-president of Sinn Féin is cosplaying as first minister in Wales".

"[O'Neill] can travel wherever she wants but she can't pretend to be representing the government of Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Executive, or the office that Emma [Little-Pengelly] jointly holds," he said.

"When it comes to important government discussions and engagement across this United Kingdom, Michelle O'Neill will not be a part of those discussions today, and it's Plaid Cymru and the SNP alone," Robinson added.

Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) assembly member Matthew O'Toole said there was "no issue" with Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O'Neill meeting the leaders of the SNP and Plaid Cymru.

He said it was "somewhat rich" for the DUP to criticise the first minster's involvement "when they opposed for a long time the equalisation of those titles".

"Ultimately what the DUP are trying to do - and frankly it's an issue with both big parties - is trying to distract from the lack of delivery," the leader of the opposition at Stormont told reporters.

Ap Iorwerth will hold further talks with Swinney in the afternoon in their roles as government leaders, with both men expected to sign an agreement on "future collaboration in areas of shared interest".