DUP leader Gavin Robinson has announced that deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly will no longer participate in joint engagements with Sinn Féin First Minister Michelle O'Neill. Ms Little-Pengelly will also not give permission for Ms O'Neill to fulfil engagements on her own in the role of First Minister.
Party response to police investigation
The announcement followed a meeting of DUP party officers on Thursday to discuss how to respond to Ms O'Neill and several of her party colleagues being investigated by police for participating in an allegedly unlawful protest on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown last month. The protest was staged as part of efforts to prevent a contentious Orange Order parade proceeding down the predominantly nationalist road from nearby Drumcree Church.
Ms O'Neill, who attended a police station for interview last week, has defended her presence at the protest as the "right thing to do". While stopping short of withdrawing Ms Little-Pengelly from her post – a move that would also force Ms O'Neill from her role and collapse the Stormont Executive – Mr Robinson told reporters on Thursday he could not give an assurance he would not ultimately take that step.
Impact on scheduled meetings
"Michelle O'Neill's arrogance will have consequences for her," he said. The practical outworking of the move means Ms O'Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly will not attend an economic event in Glasgow on Friday. Stormont's leaders were scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Scottish First Minister John Swinney and Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Ms O'Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly were also due to hold a separate meeting with Mr Burnham in Glasgow to discuss the ongoing impasse over the lack of a Stormont budget for the current financial year. Posting on social media before Mr Robinson officially announced his party's decision, Ms O'Neill claimed blocking participation in the Glasgow conference was a "reactive stunt, driven by the DUP's own internal pressures and electoral problems".
She added: "The Economic Forum is taking place tomorrow in Glasgow, and this reckless and irresponsible approach of Emma Little-Pengelly means the people of the north will not be represented." Mr Robinson said his party's blockade also means an already-postponed meeting between Ms O'Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly and Irish President Catherine Connolly at her official residence at Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin will not now take place.
