Northern Ireland's First Minister has issued a direct appeal to the UK government for increased financial support and greater budgetary leeway, stating it is essential to break the deadlock over Stormont's spending plans.
A Call for Change in London's Approach
First Minister Michelle O'Neill met with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, in Belfast on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. She was accompanied by Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald for the talks at the Northern Ireland Office.
Ms O'Neill described the current impasse over the proposed budget as one of the most pressing issues facing the powersharing Executive. She argued that the funding allocated from Westminster is insufficient to meet the region's needs after what she termed "over a decade of austerity" which has "decimated" public services.
The Stalemate Over a Multi-Year Plan
The push for a resolution comes after Finance Minister John O'Dowd published a draft multi-year spending plan last week, the first such proposal in more than ten years. The plan is currently out for public consultation.
However, the draft budget has not been agreed by the Stormont Executive and has faced criticism from other parties, notably the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). This lack of consensus has created a significant political hurdle.
"We need to focus on getting to a point where we have a three-year budget," Ms O'Neill stated. "But for me, this is very much twin track. There are policy decisions in London that need to be changed."
Legacy Concerns and Cross-Party Dialogue
During the meeting, the First Minister also raised what she called "serious concerns" regarding the development of the UK government's Legacy Bill. She emphasised that she would not support any legislation that provides preferential treatment to military veterans.
The discussions with Mr Benn are part of a series of engagements between the larger Stormont parties and the Secretary of State this week. DUP leader Gavin Robinson met with Mr Benn in London on Tuesday, alongside party MPs Carla Lockhart and Gregory Campbell.
Mr Robinson echoed the call for Northern Ireland to be funded according to its need, but also stressed a responsibility to identify and eliminate wasteful spending to ensure public services deliver value and efficiency.
Ms O'Neill concluded her remarks by asserting the Executive's determination: "We are determined to fight the good fight for the people here. We're not asking for preferential treatment, we're asking for what's right." The outcome of these talks will be crucial for the stability of Northern Ireland's devolved government and its public services.
