SDLP Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin has said that the COVID-19 inquiry presents yet more evidence of the need for reform of the Stormont institutions.
Ms McLaughlin again made the case for reform on the floor of the Assembly today.
Said the Foyle MLA: “The failings of government revealed by the COVID-19 inquiry further underline the need for reform of the Stormont institutions.
“It is clear that stop-start government here has frustrated not only our attempts to transform our public services, but also crucially undermined the capacity of our institutions and our civil service to respond to the pandemic.
“We cannot accept the existing siloed mentality in the Executive, as the First Minister did last week before the inquiry.
“It is the job of political leadership to break down that approach and ensure that Ministers work together for the common good.
“When the institutions were down, a focus was understandably placed on the reform necessary to ensure no one party could hold the rest of us to ransom.
“Since the Executive returned, the issue of reform has slipped down the agenda and the Executive parties have refused to take any meaningful action.
“We don’t yet know what the next crisis to test Stormont will be. It may not be a pandemic, but there is no doubt that something will come along to provoke instability once again.
“The truth is these institutions are as stable today as the day before they last collapsed.
“The COVID-19 inquiry should be another wake-up call to everyone in this chamber to work together to reform our institutions.
“I hope the biggest parties in this place will finally start listening and commence the process of reform.”
