- Published
Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has "blocked" them from attending an economic summit involving Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
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Pengelly → publish → Burnham
The Sinn Féin vice-president and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) minister were both invited to attend the National Economic Council in Glasgow on Friday alongside other devolved leaders.
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vice → invite → leaders
The move follows unionist anger over Sinn Féin's involvement in protests which prevented a contentious Orange Order march in Portadown from passing along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road.
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which → follow → Road
O'Neill described the move as "reckless and irresponsible" and meant people in Northern Ireland "will not be represented".
"
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people → describe → Ireland
This is a reactive stunt, driven by the DUP's own internal pressures and electoral problems," she said in a statement posted online.
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she → drive → statement
It emerges as a meeting of the DUP's ruling committee was due to take place on Thursday morning.
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meeting → emerge → morning
Party officers were expected to consider whether to withdraw the deputy first minister or cease official engagements with O'Neill, sources told the BBC's Nolan Live programme.
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sources → expect → programme
O'Neill and other senior Sinn Féin figures have been interviewed by police investigating last month's unnotified demonstrations in Portadown, with unionists accusing the party of acting unlawfully.
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unionists → interview → party
The Sinn Féin deputy leader has defended her involvement, saying it was the "right thing to do".
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it → defend → involvement
The prime minister revived the National Economic Council over the summer to encourage greater collaboration between the nations and regions.
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minister → revive → nations
In a statement posted online on Thursday , O'Neill said: "The deputy first minister has decided to block representation from here at a major political event, which would include meeting with the first ministers of Scotland and Wales, and the British prime minister.
"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.
"
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people → post → north
This is a reactive stunt, driven by the DUP's own internal pressures and electoral problems."
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This → drive → pressures
The DUP has been under pressure from unionist rivals and some within its own ranks over how to respond to the row over Drumcree.
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DUP → respond → Drumcree
Last week, DUP MP Carla Lockhart stepped down from the party's officer board over their leader Gavin Robinson not withdrawing Little-Pengelly to force O'Neill from their joint Stormont office.
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leader → step → office
Other DUP representatives including assembly member Diane Forsythe have since backed Lockhart's calls for O'Neill to be "removed from office".
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O'Neill → include → office
On Tuesday, Forsythe said that in the absence of such "meaningful action", official engagements through the joint Executive Office should be stopped immediately as a "bare minimum".
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engagements → say → minimum
On Wednesday, a second DUP assembly member called for O'Neill to go.
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O'Neill → call → Wednesday
Maurice Bradley said removing O'Neill "would not, in itself, require the Assembly to collapse".
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removing → say → Assembly
Bradley said the "attitude displayed by senior Sinn Féin representatives in the aftermath" of the dispute "have caused widespread anger and concern".
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attitude → say → anger
He said the "arrogance and defiance demonstrated by repeated declarations that Michelle O'Neill is 'going nowhere'" was "concerning".
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O'Neill → say → declarations
Last week, a court heard Police Service of Northern Ireland intelligence information that dissidents may have mounted gun attacks on police had officers cleared a path for the parade.
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officers → hear → parade
Bradley's statement added: "No one is above the law, regardless of their political position.
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one → add → position
Bradley added that the party "must stand together" and "support Carla Lockhart".
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party → add → Lockhart
Other party members including former MP Lord McCrea and Mid Ulster councillor Clement Cuthbertson have also backed Lockhart.
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members → include → Lockhart
Party leader Robinson said last week that he was "sorry" to see Lockhart quit the DUP's officer board but added that she remained "a key part of our team".
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she → say → team
Speaking on the BBC's The View programme, the Robinson said the party had reached a democratic decision on how to deal with the Drumcree fallout.
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party → speak → fallout
He questioned whether it was necessary to "punish everyone in Northern Ireland when actually we should be punishing those who broke the law".
"We have considered all options and we keep all options on the table," he added.
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he → question → table
The Aporia
