International Women’s Day

Oral Answers to Questions — The Executive Office – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:30 pm on 19 February 2024.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Jonathan Buckley Jonathan Buckley DUP 2:30, 19 February 2024

T3. Mr Buckley asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to state the importance of International Women’s Day on 8 March. (AQT 3/22-27)

Photo of Michelle O'Neill Michelle O'Neill Sinn Féin

I am glad to see that the Member is taking an interest in International Women's Day. I hope that, this year, for International Women's Day, the Executive are able to at least advance our plans around ending violence against women and girls. I hope that we can get close to that juncture for International Women's Day, because it would be a great sign for wider society and for women and girls that the Executive take that seriously.

Photo of Jonathan Buckley Jonathan Buckley DUP

On that day, the Operation Kenova team will report on the actions of the high-profile agent, Stakeknife. Given the abuse, sexual and otherwise, that many women faced at the hands of paramilitaries, can the Minister inform the House whether she ever met Freddie Scappaticci?

Photo of Michelle O'Neill Michelle O'Neill Sinn Féin

God bless us and save us. That has nothing to do with the Executive Office. We will work our way through all our Executive business. The Member may wish to be divisive, and, if that is what he wishes to do, that is his prerogative. I am committed to working in this joint office and to trying to do our best around all the issues in public services. That is what I am focused on. I will even go further than that: that is what the wider public are also focused on.