Michelle O'Neill claims Chris Heaton-Harris has an 'ostrich mentality' over calling border poll

First Minister Michelle O'Neill has accused the Northern Ireland Secretary of State of having an 'ostrich mentality' about calling a border poll.

On an appearance on Good Morning Britain, she said that her appointment was a sign of "the change that is happening across the island".

The Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris had told the same programme a few days ago that he didn't believe a border poll would be called in the next ten years, and that a united Ireland would not occur within his lifetime.

Speaking on Thursday morning, Ms O'Neill said: "My parents and grandparents never believed that this day would come, that this change would come about."

"The North was built in such a way that someone from my background was never supposed to be in the position of first minister.

"All the old certainties of the past, of that state that they were born into, are gone.

"I think my appointment does reflect the change that's happening."

Michelle O'Neill said that she believes conversations around constitutional change can be done, "in a mature way".

"I think with Chris Heaton-Harris, with all due respect, that's a bit of an ostrich mentality; sticking your head in the sand and refusing to see what's actually happening all around you.

"I said in my acceptance speech, let's move forward together, let's walk this two-way street.

"Let's have power sharing working, let's make it work. Let's show the public that we have their backs when it comes to the day to day issues.

"And let's be respectful of each other to have a debate about, 'what's the constitutional future look like for us all?'

"And how do we find a way to do better for both those of an Irish identity, those of a British identity, who share our island because it's our place, that's our home.

"We have work to do better for us all."

Asked about her comments, the DUP Education Minister Paul Givan told UTV he was focused on his new role in the Executive.

"I want the Assembly and Executive focused to be about delivering for all the bread and butter issues," he said.

"I think the public expect the first minister and all of us to get on with the job and not focus on a border poll and typically when it comes to key moments after elections or the appointment of first ministers for Sinn Féin they go to border polling.

"The public want us to focus on bread and butter issues .... that is where my focus is."

The Northern Ireland Office, in a statement said: "The Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement is clear that any change to the constitutional position of Northern Ireland would require the consent of a majority of its people. "In accordance with the Principle of Consent, Northern Ireland will remain part of the UK for as long as its people wish for it to be. "We are absolutely clear that there is no basis to suggest that a majority of people in Northern Ireland wish to separate from the United Kingdom.”

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