SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MLA has said that it is time for both the Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement to step up and step in and restore the powersharing Stormont Executive.
He has said that the two Governments should meet immediately to agree a package of legislation between them to get Stormont back up and running.
The Foyle MLA was reacting to British Secretary of State Karen Bradley’s statement in the House of Commons today where she announced MLAs pay will be cut by £13,000, staring in November with almost £7,500 being slashed from their pay packets.
The remaining £6,000 will be reduced three months later.
The SDLP Leader said: “This political vacuum that we have found ourselves in has already gone on for far too long.
“The truth remains, without a functioning Assembly, MLAs are not fulfilling the full job that they were elected to do.
“As the SDLP has made clear time and time again, MLA pay should be cut to reflect that fact and we welcome this move from the Secretary of State today.
“We are now in the nineteenth month without power-sharing here. For most of this time, the British Government has found it more appropriate to pander to the DUP instead of tackling the hard issues head on. No more – it is time for action and responsibility.
“The two Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, need to meet urgently to agree a package of legislation to get Stormont back up and running.
“We cannot continue in this political abyss. The public is sick and tired of seeing banners and finger pointing between the DUP and Sinn Féin.
“They need Ministers in place and a functioning Assembly to take decisions and responsibility for schools, a struggling health service and the ever-growing threat of a no deal Brexit.
“The SDLP has been clear time and time again, we are ready and willing to engage. We did not create this political vacuum and we have absolutely no desire to remain in it.
“It is simply ridiculous that there is no process in place to even try and resolve the problems and tackle the issues.
“Parties and the public must be given clarity on the next steps and the road ahead and the SDLP will be fully engaged in any process.
“Continued inaction will be catastrophic for our people and for the North.
“Everyone must be completely focused and dedicated to restore power-sharing here – time is up on the political drift,” he added.
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