UUP Chief Negotiator says ongoing Committee Meetings over the summer will be a barometer for certain Parties
UUP Chief Negotiator Alan McFarland today welcomed the news from the Secretary of State that the Assembly will sit this Friday and that the Preparation for Government Committee is due to meet over the summer to move towards the government’s work plan leading towards the 24th November deadline.
In a statement Mr McFarland said,
“Truth be told the stop-start nature of the last few weeks has been a fiasco and has done little to endear the political process to the general public. Having said that I welcome the fact that the Assembly will sit this Friday. The Assembly should and must be given the right to express its views on the raft of damaging and on-going direct rule policies that are being foisted upon the people of Northern Ireland against their clearly stated wishes.
With this in mind I also welcome news that the Preparation for Government Committee is meeting over the summer to identify the issues and blockages standing in the way of a return to devolution. It will be a good barometer for some parties to test whether they are committed to finding a way forward to the benefit of all in Northern Ireland or whether internal party political considerations will override the dangers posed by current proposals on education, rates and water charges.”