The SDLP's Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole has said that the Executive’s failure to deliver their Programme for Government as planned underlines the dysfunction within it.
Ministers had been due to meet on Wednesday morning to sign off on the final version of the document with a press conference scheduled for lunchtime to allow the First and deputy First Ministers to address the public about the document, however, journalists were informed early on Wednesday that the plans had been postponed.
It later emerged that the plans had been delayed after Alliance Party Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir expressed concern he would not get sight of the final document until shortly before ministers were due to convene at Stormont Castle. A final draft version was circulated on Friday, with ministers asked to respond with feedback by Tuesday in advance of any last minute alterations being made. The meeting is now scheduled to take place early on Thursday.
“The Executive’s Programme for Government (PfG) has already been subjected to massive delays and has now been postponed at the eleventh hour due to squabbling around the Executive table. They have had three years to work on this – it’s more than 1000 days since the last election, these parties have met continually since to discuss priorities and the PfG draft brought to the Assembly last year was full of half-baked and re-heated ideas that fail to address the serious challenges facing public services in Northern Ireland. They are now struggling to get even that over the line," Matthew O'Toole said.
“This farce typifies the dysfunction we have seen since the return of the Stormont institutions last year. Despite all the promises that were made to the public our health waiting lists are getting longer, families’ childcare bills are getting more expensive and poverty and homelessness continue to rise. Nobody expected the Executive to work miracles, but delivering a budget or PfG on time shouldn’t be too much to ask.
“The latest public fallout among Executive parties shouldn’t be allowed to detract from the collective responsibility they share for their inability to begin the process of reforming the institutions despite repeated challenges from the SDLP Opposition. It is disappointing that the reason for this final delay is the Alliance Party, who despite attempts to separate themselves from their Executive colleagues must bear some responsibility for the failure that has permeated this Executive since its return."
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