Mid Term Report For The First NI Executive Led By The Minister For All And The Party Of Change (© Sinn Fein)

Muiris Ó Súilleabháin ✍ Standardised testing was carried out during the period, 3rd February 2024- June 30th June 2025. The level of achievement was measured using the three domains of:

Election Manifesto
Programme for Government
Public Commitments

The Student's performance has been assessed by comparing how they progressed their stated agenda against an average ability group (Stormont 1922 – 1972).

Attendance: 66%: Given the average MLA has almost triple the annual leave of a Civil Servant with 30 years’ experience one could have expected a better application to the tasks at hand than demonstrated: More productivity required.

Core Subject	Mark	Focus for Development

United Ireland	2/10	The student has singularly failed to progress a United Ireland agenda either within the NI Executive or the UK body politic. Having only progressed by 1 percentage point since 1998, the student has been awarded 2 points for perseverance. Despite the monotonous calls for the British Secretary of State to call a border poll, there is zero indication that one is imminent or that it would be won. Must try harder and move beyond the embarrassing rhetoric of proxy organisations.
A Socialist Republic	Not Applicable	Unable to mark the student on this core subject as the student failed to mention this domain in any of the work that has been submitted. While the student did utilise the word socialist from the podium at the Easter Parades, the reaffirmation of this fundamental republican creed has not been reflected within the extended timeframe of this Executive.
Redistribution of Wealth	0/10	This mark reflects the commitment shown to tackle poverty as embodied by the “Anti-Poverty Strategy” presented to the public by an Executive that the student leads and holds 4 of the current 8 Ministries, including finance and economy. The student must develop an understanding that many working-class communities and vulnerable people have not benefitted from the “peace process gravy train”.
Community Cohesion	1/10	The assertion from the head girl that her presence in areas affected by racist riots in June 2025 would inflame tensions is a tacit acceptance that she is not “A First Minister for All”. The failure by anyone to challenge her on this assertion is an indication of how deeply ingrained sectarianism is, in NI Society. In 2025 we still have sectarian “no-go” areas. The north also remains the only place on this planet where racism can actually be sectarianized. Failed strategies to address racism and sectarianism must be jettisoned and failed “community workers” must be redeployed. The student must decide if they actually want to tackle sectarianism, racism and paramilitarism. If they do, then there is sufficient time left in this term to advance a move away from Einsteins definition of insanity.
Health	-2/10	The promotion of a privatised, two-tier health service as the solution to incredulous waiting lists in the north is without comparison on these isles. In a policy shift that Thatcher would have winced at, rich people from the northern jurisdiction can now pay to receive surgery in the southern jurisdiction, the public purse will be used to reimburse the wealthy. To promote equality of access to surgery, poor people requiring life changing surgery can start go-fund me pages or pay loan sharks (income generation). Points were deducted from the student for dishonesty. Claiming the credit for the restoration of (UK) pay parity for health workers in the north can only be viewed in the context of the student reversing the “Tory austerity measure” that the student themselves introduced in 2017. The student should focus less on populist, short-term Tory policy and more on supporting the vulnerable in society. Refer to earlier section on “Socialist Republic”
Infrastructure	1/10	The student’s incompetence in building a road from Aughnacloy to Derry is only matched by their ineptitude in not pedestrianising a road in Belfast City Centre. The student must make themselves aware of the legislative changes on climate change that their party supported in the Executive. While no points were deducted for dishonesty, the student’s failure to conduct public business in a transparent and open manner does not bode well for an “Ireland of equals”. The student should focus on referencing its homework against legislation that it has already submitted. Getting caught out “winging it” is not the hallmark of good governance.
Environment	4/10	Credit should be given to the students Government for including action on the ecological crisis that has gripped Lough Neagh for almost two years. Action to tackle the poisoning of the source of 50% of the norths drinking water is now included in the Programme for Government. However, The manager of the Lough Neagh Partnership has noted that: “all the political support and concern for the Lough seemed to have evaporated and disappeared like melted snow”. The student should reflect on the necessity to follow through on actions that are agreed in the spotlight of publicity and in response to public outcry. Photo ops and platitudes are not a substitute for action.
Sport	Not Applicable	The powerlessness and incompetence displayed by your government in failing to build a football pitch in West Belfast is the most profound demonstration of your party’s inability to organise a “piss up in a brewery”. The County Antrim Board of the GAA is now privately expressing its concern that “project Casement” was scuppered by Sinn Fein interference which they now feel was driven by a desire to cash in on a multi-million-pound open air concert opportunity. The student should instruct “the peoples festival” that it should acquire its own HQ and concert venues, not encroach upon the needs and aspirations of Antrim Gaels.

General Comments:

Given that the student had an extended period of 25 years in Kindergarten and Primary School, more was expected from the scholar on entering “Big School”. The first term has been unremarkable in that it was marked by a continuation of DUP and British Government policy of the 1998 to 2023 era. The school staff had little expectation that the student would instigate the radical agenda as promised in their manifesto for “change” and noted pre-roll call that their stated ambition would exceed their capability. It was not, however, unreasonable to have assumed that the pre-enrolment promise of “change” referred to a positive change for the electorate, rather than merely a change to the flag colour on the donkey.

It is difficult to envisage how the student can improve their grades with only 17 months remaining in their mandate. If the student perseveres with their adherence to the Twainian maxim that it is easier to fool people than to convince them that they are being fooled they may yet progress beyond a single term in long trousers on the basis that they are not the DUP.

⏩Muiris Ó Súilleabháin was a member of the Republican Movement until he retired in 2006 after 20 years of service. Fiche bhliain ag fás.