UUP: Direct Rule Urgently Needed In Absence Of Devolution

Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann MLA has called for direct rule with immediate affect, after it emerged that over 160 decisions have been halted due to the lack of a Northern Ireland Executive to provide ministerial approval.

Mr Swann said the outstanding decisions are a "stark reminder of what is happening in Northern Ireland" and condemned the lack of progression on education, mental health, and the outstanding issue of a pathologist service for children and babies.

"In the absence of political decision making, government is grinding to a halt. These are decisions which should be made, could be made and now need to be made. It is having a direct and punitive impact on the people of Northern Ireland."

The backlog affects everything from health and business to policing and the environment.

Northern Ireland's Assembly has not been functioning since the collapse of power-sharing in January 2017, when a row erupted over the handling of the botched renewable energy scheme.

In some cases, legislation has now been waiting for ministerial approval for over 600 days.

"There is now a huge onus on the Secretary of State, Karen Bradley MP and Her Majesty's Government to ensure that we are not treated as second class citizens in our own country because of the inability of the two largest parties to reach agreement on the restoration of devolution," Mr Swann added.

"There is never a perfect time to start talks and we certainly can't wait until Brexit has been completed. If the Secretary of State believes that there is no prospect of restoring devolution in the short-term, then she must step in and appoint direct rule ministers."

The North Antrim MLA emphasised his understanding of the Government's reluctance to introduce direct rule, due to the "anticipated over-reaction of Sinn Fein threatening long term political paralysis".

Despite this, Mr Swann insisted that Westminster legislatures should consider what comes first: "The political sensitivities of parties who place ideology above all else, or the wellbeing of our people?

"The people of Northern Ireland should not be used as pawns in the continued political stalemate where Sinn Fein are engaged in a face-off with the DUP. Karen Bradley MP wouldn't stand for it in her own constituency, so I don't see why the people of Northern Ireland should have to stand for it either.

"We have the highest rate of suicide per head of population in the UK, yet we have a Suicide Prevention Strategy sitting on the shelf, parents are donating toilet rolls to schools because of struggling budgets and only last week we learned that the grieving parents of deceased infants will be forced to endure the prospect of their children's remains being transported to England for post-mortems.

"What will it take for the Secretary of State to act? In the absence of progress, it has to be direct rule now."



(JG/CM)