O’Neill cannot be separated from First Minister’s responsibilities, says Swinney

Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O’Neill cannot be separated from the responsibilities of Northern Ireland’s First Minister, John Swinney has said.Scotland’s First Minister said claims to the contrary are a “false argument”, as he was asked about the DUP’s criticism of Monday’s meeting of pro-independence parties.DUP leader Gavin Robinson accused Ms O’Neill of “cosplaying” as First Minister at the pro-independence summit, where Sinn Féin struck an agreement with the SNP and Plaid Cymru.The DUP said Ms O’Neill had no authority to attend the event in her role as joint leader of the Stormont Executive.Michelle O’Neill, right, was part of the meeting on Monday (Ben Birchall/PA)PA WireMr Swinney, who leads the SNP, was asked about the criticism of Ms O’Neill on Wednesday after he met Irish President Catherine Connolly during her four-day official visit to Scotland.He told the Press Association: “We can’t separate from ourselves the responsibilities that we carry.“I think this is a false argument that’s been peddled.“The First Minister of Northern Ireland, the First Minister of Wales, the First Minister of Scotland all believe that their countries are entitled to decide their own future.Michelle O’Neill attended the event with the leaders of Scotland Wales on Monday (PA)“That’s a historic moment. We’ve never had a moment like this.“That changes, fundamentally, the United Kingdom.”Mr Swinney was also asked about comments from Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who had suggested Sinn Féin may set back the cause of Irish unity by aligning itself with Scottish and Welsh pro-independence parties.The Fianna Fáil politician suggested Northern Ireland should be seen as an “exceptional” issue rather than something embroiled in British politics.Asked about this, Mr Swinney told PA: “The fundamental point is that it’s the principle of self-determination that the people of North of Ireland, or Wales, or Scotland have got to have the right to decide their own future, and that’s the principle that I want to make sure is central to this debate.”The SNP leader also said US President Donald Trump had made a “very clear statement” when he spoke in support of Irish unification at the weekend.