NIGAG press release on NI Assembly
05/10/06
NIGAG CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE RESTORATION OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
The Northern Ireland Government Affairs Group will today (10.00am Tuesday 3rd October) hold its Annual General Meeting at Hillsborough Castle with a plea to local politicians to redouble their efforts to achieve the restoration of accountable local government. A senior Northern Ireland Office Minister will address the meeting and will hear concerns from a range of organisations across civic society on the need to re-establish the devolved institutions as a matter of urgency.
NIGAG Chairman, Tom Sullivan said “We are currently witnessing major reform in every area of public policy across Northern Ireland. 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. At present authority for the governance of Northern Ireland is vested in the hands of direct rule ministers. Despite their best intentions this situation is not good for the organisations and members we represent, it is not good for our local politicians and it is not good for the democractic process.
We are now entering a critical phase in our history, which will determine how we are governed for the foreseeable future. We recognise that the expectation level upon our elected representatives is huge. However, I am confident that an accommodation can be reached which is acceptable to all and that a restored Assembly can, and will, be the catalyst in building a better, more prosperous and secure future for everyone. The current ills affecting our society are well documented and the message must be delivered that with so much depending upon a successful restoration of the political institutions, now is the time to take risks to move forward”.
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