DUP dismissal of democratic oversight a Worrying Sign - Kennedy
Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader Danny Kennedy has voiced his dismay over the DUP’s disdainful condemnation of democratic accountability in Stormont.
Following on from comments made today by the DUP which touched upon the National Stadium, incoming Committee of the Centre chair, Danny Kennedy, said: “The merest whiff of power has clearly made the DUP delirious.
“I spoke of democratic accountability, and effective scrutiny and oversight of major matters of public interest. But this has been labelled ‘pathetic’ by the DUP.
“I, and a great many people, will want to explore issues like the National Stadium more fully. Especially when a Sinn Fein representative has stated that both the stadium and the preserved prison buildings projects are joined at the hip and must proceed simultaneously.
“Of course things can get rushed through a lot faster if decisions are predetermined. So maybe scrutiny is somewhat inconvenient to the DUP, but I think a full examination is reasonable in this instance.”
He added: “My desire to deliver oversight and accountability has everything to do with being a democrat. It’s what people expect of responsible legislators. Why does this so unnerve the DUP?
“Government is there to serve the people of Northern Ireland, not the needs of the Democratic Unionist Party.
“If DUP representatives get so confused over the nature of what’s ‘democratic’, why did they put it in the name above their shopfront door? They ought to be more familiar with the concept.”