Michelle O’Neill’s priority is to “provide leadership” and continue the work of the Executive, after the shock resignation of DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.
Ms O’Neill, Northern Ireland First Minister and Sinn Fein vice president, said: “My priority is to continue to provide the leadership the public expect and deserve, and to ensure the four-party Executive coalition delivers for the whole of our community now and in the future.
“The DUP leader has resigned after being charged with serious offences. This is now a matter for the criminal justice system.”
In a statement, UUP leader Doug Beattie said: “The leadership of the DUP is a matter for the DUP.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s departure in these very inauspicious and concerning circumstances, after he has done the damage of surrendering his party to the Protocol, has very wide ramifications for unionism.
Like any individual he must be afforded the protection of innocent until…
— Jim Allister (@JimAllister) March 29, 2024
“Although the circumstances are of concern and in the public interest, we are mindful that this is now a criminal investigation and it would not be proper to comment further.”
TUV leader Jim Allister said Sir Jeffrey’s resignation has “very wide ramifications for unionism”.
He said: “The damage is not limited to his party but impacts unionism as a whole.
“Unionism was already divided by the Donaldson deal. This needs to be a cathartic moment for unionism.
“Unionism must steady itself and cut adrift the Donaldson folly of accepting an Irish Sea border and rule by EU law.”
The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said: “We note the appointment of an interim leader of the DUP.
The selection of @GRobinsonDUP as @duponline interim leader is a very positive decision. He & @little_pengelly played a key role in a tough negotiation to restore powersharing & along with other DUP colleagues will chart a positive course for the future.
— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) March 29, 2024
“We will continue to work with all parties to ensure the full and effective functioning of the Good Friday Agreement institutions.”
Julian Smith, secretary of state for Northern Ireland from 2019 to 2020, said Sir Jeffrey’s resignation was a “big shock to everybody”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s World at One: “I’m not concerned in any way that this shocking news today will lead to any change in the momentum behind powersharing, and the stability that has now brought as it was returned a couple of months ago.”
“In this leadership role he has played a critical part over the last few months.
“He led the negotiations with the Government, and he worked with his own party to move them from their position of staying out of the executive on the basis that they didn’t agree with the Northern Ireland protocol to returning.”
On X, formerly Twitter, he also said the selection of new DUP interim leader Gavin Robinson was a “very positive decision”.
Mr Smith said Mr Robinson and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly played a key role in restoring powersharing and “will chart a positive course for the future”.