UUP MEP launches blistering attack on First & Deputy First Minister over their failure to secure a Financial Package
Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has launched a blistering attack on the First and Deputy First Minister this morning over their failure to secure a financial package for Northern Ireland.
Mr Nicholson was speaking as the Executive’s Programme for Government and budget was being presented to the Assembly. The UUP MEP has accused the DUP and Sinn Fein of brushing the issue under the carpet.
In a statement Mr Nicholson said,
“Today’s announcements in the Assembly on the budget and the Executive’s programme for Government have reminded people of the DUP and Sinn Fein’s utter failure to secure a financial package for Northern Ireland.
“During March’s Assembly election campaign both the DUP and Sinn Fein made great noise about the need for a financial package from the Treasury to underpin any return to devolution in Northern Ireland. It was a make or break issue for the First Minister who even threatened that he wouldn’t consider entering an Executive until he got a financial package from the Treasury.
“Instead of explaining to the people of Northern Ireland why they haven’t delivered the DUP and Sinn Fein have conveniently tried to brush the whole issue under the carpet. It is almost 6 months since devolution was restored and yet the mysterious financial package talked about so loudly by the DUP and Sinn Fein during the Assembly election campaign remains beyond the grasp of these politicians.
“From my perspective in Europe I still remain deeply sceptical of the First and Deputy First Minister’s commitment to engaging with Brussels in financial terms.
“After decades of the Troubles and years of underinvestment in our infrastructure, Northern Ireland needs and deserves an economic package from the Treasury that will enable a new Executive to invest in growth, innovation and enterprise.”