Matthew O'Toole MLA
@otoolematthew.bsky.social
Now:
SDLP MLA for South Belfast | Leader of the Opposition
Former: civil servant & journalist.
Future: A social democratic new Ireland
SDLP MLA for South Belfast | Leader of the Opposition
Former: civil servant & journalist.
Future: A social democratic new Ireland
I graduated 20 years ago (🤯) the same day a local laureate got an hon Degree.
My dad insisted on introducing himself, convinced Heaney would welcome chat with a "fellow culchie". And he did!
Back then I cringed, now as father myself, I think of my dad's pride and delight and am emotional.
My dad insisted on introducing himself, convinced Heaney would welcome chat with a "fellow culchie". And he did!
Back then I cringed, now as father myself, I think of my dad's pride and delight and am emotional.
June 23, 2025 at 7:31 PM
I graduated 20 years ago (🤯) the same day a local laureate got an hon Degree.
My dad insisted on introducing himself, convinced Heaney would welcome chat with a "fellow culchie". And he did!
Back then I cringed, now as father myself, I think of my dad's pride and delight and am emotional.
My dad insisted on introducing himself, convinced Heaney would welcome chat with a "fellow culchie". And he did!
Back then I cringed, now as father myself, I think of my dad's pride and delight and am emotional.
The Executive is defined by inaction, so is happy with the distraction of daily rows on signs or statues.
If we want to give young people a reason not to get on a plane to Australia, we need to offer more them more than one never-ending Old Firm game.
If we want to give young people a reason not to get on a plane to Australia, we need to offer more them more than one never-ending Old Firm game.
May 10, 2025 at 12:16 PM
The Executive is defined by inaction, so is happy with the distraction of daily rows on signs or statues.
If we want to give young people a reason not to get on a plane to Australia, we need to offer more them more than one never-ending Old Firm game.
If we want to give young people a reason not to get on a plane to Australia, we need to offer more them more than one never-ending Old Firm game.
Stormont ministers have spent thousands on five star hotels while using lack of cash as a catch-all excuse for failure to deliver.
When I asked the FM if she'd stayed in luxury hotels on public money, she claimed she didn't know.
My letter to the Finance Minister on this ridiculous situation 👇
When I asked the FM if she'd stayed in luxury hotels on public money, she claimed she didn't know.
My letter to the Finance Minister on this ridiculous situation 👇
April 28, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Stormont ministers have spent thousands on five star hotels while using lack of cash as a catch-all excuse for failure to deliver.
When I asked the FM if she'd stayed in luxury hotels on public money, she claimed she didn't know.
My letter to the Finance Minister on this ridiculous situation 👇
When I asked the FM if she'd stayed in luxury hotels on public money, she claimed she didn't know.
My letter to the Finance Minister on this ridiculous situation 👇
This is a marketing email but it feels very pointed.
April 24, 2025 at 9:36 PM
This is a marketing email but it feels very pointed.
Was in my hometown earlier and Patrick's resting place looks the part rightly ☘️
March 15, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Was in my hometown earlier and Patrick's resting place looks the part rightly ☘️
As a geriatric millennial, I make no apologies for having my Horlicks in this mug.
February 24, 2025 at 11:01 PM
As a geriatric millennial, I make no apologies for having my Horlicks in this mug.
We desperately need to devolve more fiscal power away from London.
But under four successive Sinn Féin finance ministers barely anything has happened other than empty talk.
When I asked John O'Dowd how he planned to fulfil SF manifesto pledges in this area, he just dismissed the question.
But under four successive Sinn Féin finance ministers barely anything has happened other than empty talk.
When I asked John O'Dowd how he planned to fulfil SF manifesto pledges in this area, he just dismissed the question.
February 21, 2025 at 4:09 PM
We desperately need to devolve more fiscal power away from London.
But under four successive Sinn Féin finance ministers barely anything has happened other than empty talk.
When I asked John O'Dowd how he planned to fulfil SF manifesto pledges in this area, he just dismissed the question.
But under four successive Sinn Féin finance ministers barely anything has happened other than empty talk.
When I asked John O'Dowd how he planned to fulfil SF manifesto pledges in this area, he just dismissed the question.
Small stretch of the Woodstock road with Carlingford Lough themed streets running off it (Killowen, Greenford, Oneath and Carlingfprd street running parallel)
February 8, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Small stretch of the Woodstock road with Carlingford Lough themed streets running off it (Killowen, Greenford, Oneath and Carlingfprd street running parallel)
Are you interested in why NI politics struggles to make meaningful change and how we improve our democracy?
I'm giving a talk on that subject and my reflections on a year in Oppositon on 18 February at Ulster University
Register and come along:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creating-a...
I'm giving a talk on that subject and my reflections on a year in Oppositon on 18 February at Ulster University
Register and come along:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creating-a...
February 5, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Are you interested in why NI politics struggles to make meaningful change and how we improve our democracy?
I'm giving a talk on that subject and my reflections on a year in Oppositon on 18 February at Ulster University
Register and come along:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creating-a...
I'm giving a talk on that subject and my reflections on a year in Oppositon on 18 February at Ulster University
Register and come along:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creating-a...
Hi @allianceparty.bsky.social
Flattered so many SDLP ideas have made it into your paper - almost verbatim 🥰
I fear however your bizarre geographic depiction of this region may stand in the way of your claimed aspiration to rejoin the EU.
Which will only happen via a New Ireland.
Flattered so many SDLP ideas have made it into your paper - almost verbatim 🥰
I fear however your bizarre geographic depiction of this region may stand in the way of your claimed aspiration to rejoin the EU.
Which will only happen via a New Ireland.
January 31, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Hi @allianceparty.bsky.social
Flattered so many SDLP ideas have made it into your paper - almost verbatim 🥰
I fear however your bizarre geographic depiction of this region may stand in the way of your claimed aspiration to rejoin the EU.
Which will only happen via a New Ireland.
Flattered so many SDLP ideas have made it into your paper - almost verbatim 🥰
I fear however your bizarre geographic depiction of this region may stand in the way of your claimed aspiration to rejoin the EU.
Which will only happen via a New Ireland.
Useful but sobering insights from small businesses and community sector representatives on the huge pressures facing them at a joint finance and economy committee meeting. Its clear that Executive action is needed to support them.
January 29, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Useful but sobering insights from small businesses and community sector representatives on the huge pressures facing them at a joint finance and economy committee meeting. Its clear that Executive action is needed to support them.
Michelle O'Neill assured me again yesterday that the Executive was delivering and had an ambitious legislative programme.
What's on the Stormont agenda for next week?
A non-binding motion on nappy collection.
Mortifying.
What's on the Stormont agenda for next week?
A non-binding motion on nappy collection.
Mortifying.
January 21, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Michelle O'Neill assured me again yesterday that the Executive was delivering and had an ambitious legislative programme.
What's on the Stormont agenda for next week?
A non-binding motion on nappy collection.
Mortifying.
What's on the Stormont agenda for next week?
A non-binding motion on nappy collection.
Mortifying.
All our SDLP Opposition Day motions on tackling violence against women passed yesterday, but now we need to see action from the Executive.
As I said yesterday, we can no longer tolerate women feeling unsafe as they live their lives.
As I said yesterday, we can no longer tolerate women feeling unsafe as they live their lives.
January 15, 2025 at 5:03 PM
All our SDLP Opposition Day motions on tackling violence against women passed yesterday, but now we need to see action from the Executive.
As I said yesterday, we can no longer tolerate women feeling unsafe as they live their lives.
As I said yesterday, we can no longer tolerate women feeling unsafe as they live their lives.
Every year my terrific colleague @oisindonn.bsky.social outdoes himself with our office card.
Merry Christmas from the Opposition and bless us, everyone.
Merry Christmas from the Opposition and bless us, everyone.
December 19, 2024 at 9:08 PM
Every year my terrific colleague @oisindonn.bsky.social outdoes himself with our office card.
Merry Christmas from the Opposition and bless us, everyone.
Merry Christmas from the Opposition and bless us, everyone.
Useful roundtable in Dublin today on the @sdlp.bsky.social Our European Future proposals and how we maximise the opportunities for our businesses, workers, young people and wider society from our unique relationship with the EU.
Many thanks to IBEC for hosting myself and @clairehanna.bsky.social
Many thanks to IBEC for hosting myself and @clairehanna.bsky.social
December 16, 2024 at 4:22 PM
Useful roundtable in Dublin today on the @sdlp.bsky.social Our European Future proposals and how we maximise the opportunities for our businesses, workers, young people and wider society from our unique relationship with the EU.
Many thanks to IBEC for hosting myself and @clairehanna.bsky.social
Many thanks to IBEC for hosting myself and @clairehanna.bsky.social
The Assembly has voted to extend the protections of the Protocol.
Now, as well as continued efforts to smooth goods movement, we need a focus on maximising the immense opportunities from our unique relationship with Europe.
My words in the Assembly on Tuesday.
Now, as well as continued efforts to smooth goods movement, we need a focus on maximising the immense opportunities from our unique relationship with Europe.
My words in the Assembly on Tuesday.
December 11, 2024 at 11:11 PM
The Assembly has voted to extend the protections of the Protocol.
Now, as well as continued efforts to smooth goods movement, we need a focus on maximising the immense opportunities from our unique relationship with Europe.
My words in the Assembly on Tuesday.
Now, as well as continued efforts to smooth goods movement, we need a focus on maximising the immense opportunities from our unique relationship with Europe.
My words in the Assembly on Tuesday.
Strongly disagree. You have conflated your views of the IT, which may be justified, onto an author who has written a thoughtful piece. At no point does he describe himself as a unionist, but you've pigeonholed him despite paragraphs like below.
December 8, 2024 at 7:48 PM
Strongly disagree. You have conflated your views of the IT, which may be justified, onto an author who has written a thoughtful piece. At no point does he describe himself as a unionist, but you've pigeonholed him despite paragraphs like below.
Ahead of this week's vote, you'll hear negativity about our relationship to Europe.
Not from the SDLP.
We are NI's most pro-European party and passionate about the opportunities awaiting our people from a truly European future 🇪🇺
We were in Brussels this week making that case.
Not from the SDLP.
We are NI's most pro-European party and passionate about the opportunities awaiting our people from a truly European future 🇪🇺
We were in Brussels this week making that case.
December 7, 2024 at 9:03 PM
Ahead of this week's vote, you'll hear negativity about our relationship to Europe.
Not from the SDLP.
We are NI's most pro-European party and passionate about the opportunities awaiting our people from a truly European future 🇪🇺
We were in Brussels this week making that case.
Not from the SDLP.
We are NI's most pro-European party and passionate about the opportunities awaiting our people from a truly European future 🇪🇺
We were in Brussels this week making that case.
Great day in Brussels launching the SDLP's Our Future in Europe proposals
Great conversations with @theprogressives.bsky.social colleagues, facilitated by @aodhanoriordain.bsky.social
Caught up with EU-UK partnership co-chair Sandro Gozi, S&D leader Iratxe Garcia, MEPs and member states.
Great conversations with @theprogressives.bsky.social colleagues, facilitated by @aodhanoriordain.bsky.social
Caught up with EU-UK partnership co-chair Sandro Gozi, S&D leader Iratxe Garcia, MEPs and member states.
December 4, 2024 at 4:10 PM
Great day in Brussels launching the SDLP's Our Future in Europe proposals
Great conversations with @theprogressives.bsky.social colleagues, facilitated by @aodhanoriordain.bsky.social
Caught up with EU-UK partnership co-chair Sandro Gozi, S&D leader Iratxe Garcia, MEPs and member states.
Great conversations with @theprogressives.bsky.social colleagues, facilitated by @aodhanoriordain.bsky.social
Caught up with EU-UK partnership co-chair Sandro Gozi, S&D leader Iratxe Garcia, MEPs and member states.
Stormont's shameful go-slow on climate and the environment continues.
I asked the dFM to confirm the DUP wouldn't block an independent Environmental Protection Agency or ambitious climate action plans (if either are ever brought forward).
Her answer was not encouraging.
I asked the dFM to confirm the DUP wouldn't block an independent Environmental Protection Agency or ambitious climate action plans (if either are ever brought forward).
Her answer was not encouraging.
November 25, 2024 at 5:41 PM
Stormont's shameful go-slow on climate and the environment continues.
I asked the dFM to confirm the DUP wouldn't block an independent Environmental Protection Agency or ambitious climate action plans (if either are ever brought forward).
Her answer was not encouraging.
I asked the dFM to confirm the DUP wouldn't block an independent Environmental Protection Agency or ambitious climate action plans (if either are ever brought forward).
Her answer was not encouraging.
Great conversations last week with the pupils of Lagan College, some really tough questions asked (tougher than some journalists!) and a great opportunity to learn about how our government works here.
November 25, 2024 at 3:20 PM
Great conversations last week with the pupils of Lagan College, some really tough questions asked (tougher than some journalists!) and a great opportunity to learn about how our government works here.
After the horrors of Mobouy and Lough Neagh, despite a promise in his party's manifesto, the Environment Minister has kicked an independent Environmental Protection Agency into the long grass with another review.
Will anything shame Stormont into protecting the environment?
Will anything shame Stormont into protecting the environment?
November 19, 2024 at 4:29 PM
After the horrors of Mobouy and Lough Neagh, despite a promise in his party's manifesto, the Environment Minister has kicked an independent Environmental Protection Agency into the long grass with another review.
Will anything shame Stormont into protecting the environment?
Will anything shame Stormont into protecting the environment?