Patsy McGlone 14th September 2009

MCGLONE: DEVOLUTION MUST OFFER MORE

SDLP Mid-Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone has said that devolution is at a cross roads and other parties need to decide whether to go backwards or to move forwards in the best interests of the entire community.

Speaking at the launch of an SDLP policy document Your Future, Our Priority – Making Devolution Work, Mr McGlone  outlined at least 10 areas where the party want to see movement in the next two years of devolution.

He said: "Devolution must offer more. This term should really begin with a review of that budget. The Cookstown, Magherafelt and Dungannon areas have suffered some of the worst ravages of the recession with continuing unemployment and hardship for many families.

“The two largest parties refuse to have a fresh debate on the economy even though the recession continues to put more people on the dole queue and our business sector faces very tough times.

“The education system is now in a complete mess, teaching staff are demoralised and parents and children are completely confused and annoyed at the failure of the Education Minister to tackle the 11 plus issue.

“We had water charges introduced for non-domestic users in 2008 and double in 2009. The hard pressed business community are bearing the brunt of this and have to endure a chaotic billing system that NI Water continue to ignore.

“Furthermore they are at a loss to understand why SF and the DUP supported these charges in their three year budget having told the electorate prior to the elections that they would resist water charges.

“In this paper the SDLP set out what we believe devolution must deliver and the key areas on which it will be judged.”

Executive and Assembly To Do List

• Publish the Shared Future Strategy
• Settle the Civil Service Equal Pay Claim
• Bring forward plans for an Irish Language Act
• Adopt compromise proposals for the settlement of post-primary transfer plans
• Tackle the problem of victims and the past
• Devolve justice and policing powers
• Develop and expand the North-South Agenda
• Adopt and move on the recommendations of the Bain report on the relocation of public sector jobs
• Make the provision of social housing a budget priority to provide a much needed boost to our construction industry and to alleviate housing need

• Conduct productive and fair Executive meetings to suit the public’s agenda and not a narrow political one

To download Policy Document click here [Word doc]

ENDS