Sinn Fein to nominate O’Neill as UK makes Irish language vow Updated: 17/06/2021, 3:02 am Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill during a press conference after the British Irish Council summit in Lough Erne Resort in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh. Picture date: Friday June 11, 2021. Sinn Fein will nominate Michelle O’Neill as deputy First Minister at Stormont after party president Mary Lou McDonald said she received a commitment from the UK Government to legislate for Irish language protections at Westminster. Ms McDonald earlier said she was going to meet Secretary of State Brandon Lewis late on Wednesday as her party and the DUP attempted to avert a fresh political crisis at Stormont.