Stormont failure will have ‘real and immediate consequences’ – McNulty
SDLP Assembly Member for Newry and Armagh Justin McNulty MLA has said the lack of an agreement at Stormont will have real and immediate consequences far beyond the corridors of power.
Speaking to Newry Times, McNulty said, “The failure to get any sort of agreement will have very real and immediate consequences for public services across the north. Let there be no mistake about it, the failure of politicians to agree will have an impact for beyond the corridors of Stormont.
“As we set into a further period of uncertainty, those who work in the public service, in health, education and in the community and voluntary sector will see the real impact of no agreement and no budget being set.
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“Many of the services which we rely on for the most vulnerable in our society, like the children in childcare, the elderly in community based schemes and those with learning disabilities will be hit the hardest.
“Thousands of people, mainly women, are employed in the community and voluntary sector here and they provide vital frontline services for those in need, but, they need budget certainty. As we approach the end of the financial year, Stormont or the Department of Health, cannot tell them if they are getting any money next year to carry on their work.
“This is dreadful and an indictment on our political system. And Brexit is looming with the triggering of Article 50 by the Tories this week,” he continued. “Stormont has no strategy and are ill prepared for the consequences. Our energies should be focussed entirely on getting special status for the North as we are the area who are going to be most impacted.
“We’ve had three weeks since the election, and we’ve talks about talks but no real progress. I’ve been involved in some of those discussions, and whilst progress has been made on some issues, there is a serious lack of progress or real engagement on key issues.
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The local MLA added, “Enough is enough, it’s time to knuckle down and make real and lasting progress. The public are not fools; they will not accept this brinkmanship or posturing anymore. They will not forgive those who are treating this process like a game of poker. This is no game. People’s lives and livelihoods are at risk.”
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