NIGAG Press Statement on Devolution
14/10/05

NIGAG has marked the third anniversary of the suspension of the NI Assembly with a plea to local politicans to redouble their efforts to achieve the restoration of accountable local government. NIGAG Chairman, Tom Sullivan said, "Barely a day passes without a major new policy announcement, and it is essential that those responsible for delivering this change are accountable to local opinion. Good governance is not achieved by a Minister working on a multi-portfolio basis. The current direct rule system has eroded effective scrutiny and reduces the ability for stakeholders to play an effective role in the policy-making process. NIGAG has been effective in providing a platform for our members to connect with direct rule government but this is not sustainable in the long term as decisions are routinely made which impact on our daily lives and the nature of the services we receive. The concenus amongst our membership is that increasingly these decisions are being imposed rather than agreed. The experience in Northern Ireland is that governance is somthing that happens to us rather than with us. As an organisation which represents members from a wide and diverse range of interests across civic society NIGAG is determined that the Assembly can, and will, be the catalyst in striving for the very highest standards in public sector delivery for the benefit of everyone in Northern Ireland. we firmly believe that the time has now arrived to move forward and deliver on the issues which affect us all".

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