Middle East briefings give NI 'a seat at the table' says MP

Government security briefings on the Middle East conflict give Northern Ireland "a seat at the table" to raise issues, an Alliance Party MP has said.

Sorcha Eastwood was responding after First Minister Michelle O'Neill refused to join a second Cabinet Office briefing with senior officials.

The Sinn Féin vice-president said she would "not be part of any briefing by the British government on their military operations".

Eastwood said the virtual meetings gave "a voice to raise very particular issues that do impact Northern Ireland".

Unionist parties have criticised O'Neill after she did not attend high-level briefings on developments in Iran and the Middle East on Saturday and again on Monday.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, who attended both briefings, said O'Neill's stance was "genuinely disappointing".

O'Neill accused the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of seeking to use an "international warzone" for "political points".

The first minister has criticised the government, saying it made "absolutely the wrong call" in agreeing to a US request to use British military bases.

The US and Israel struck Iran on Saturday, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with a wave of attacks across the region.

Speaking to the BBC's Nolan Show on Tuesday, Eastwood said attending the Cabinet Office briefings allowed politicians to raise issues affecting Northern Ireland.

"Attending those briefings with the UK government does not mean in any shape or form that you are supporting or are involved in any way in military or armed forces conversations at all," she said.

"It simply means you have a seat at the table and a voice to raise very particular issues that do impact Northern Ireland."

The Lagan Valley MP pointed to efforts to ensure those from Northern Ireland who have travelled to the Middle East on Irish passports can access UK consular support.

"So I think it's absolutely vital at times like this, where there is such uncertainty and people are still stranded over there, that we are doing everything we can to make sure their voices are heard and that they're brought home as soon as possible."

Matthew O'Toole, leader of the opposition in the Stormont assembly, said the first and deputy first ministers needed an "agreed local response" to the conflict.

The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) assembly member said their approach so far had been "completely incoherent, dysfunctional and unacceptable".

"They clearly prioritise party political bickering over the public good," he told the Northern Ireland Assembly.

"The public just want an agreed local response.. Let's grow up and serve the public, rather than party political interest."

The Executive Office, the Stormont department jointly led by the first and deputy first ministers, has issued posts online offering advice to people from Northern Ireland in the Middle East.

It said the first and deputy first ministers were "encouraging those from here who are in the Middle East to follow the advice from official accounts" for the UK and Irish government foreign offices.

They have also urged people to register their presence in the Middle East through the relevant online portals.