Executive Parties should get on with governing

9.30.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 4th Aug 2008

Alliance Economy Spokesperson Ian James Parsley

Alliance Economy Spokesperson Ian James Parsley has demanded the Executive parties get on with governing Northern Ireland and stop delaying the big decisions necessary to help people through the economic downturn.

Speaking after another successful fundraising event for the Alliance Party in Bangor, the North Down Councillor stated: "With people in Northern Ireland wondering how they can afford to travel, heat their homes and cope with rising food prices, all we get from the Executive parties is delay and dithering. This attitude from the parties charged by the people to make the big decisions at a time of real need is disgraceful.

"People do not want to hear about parties disappearing off to Downing Street crying to mummy. They want the Executive to meet and take a determined course of action. What will be done to help with rising transport costs? What will be done to stop rising fuel poverty? What will be done to help families deal with rising grocery bills?

"The parties in the Executive may or may not have noticed that Gordon Brown has its own problems at the moment, centred on his own reputation for delay and dithering. Frankly, he is the last person anyone would trust to solve any problems right now.

"The issue at stake here is that the Executive cannot be relied upon to take a single decision - people are seeing that the Executive parties cannot be trusted with the future of our education system, with turning around the economy, with taking responsibility for policing and justice, or with anything else. Can anyone think of a determined decision the Executive has made which has not immediately fallen apart upon inspection?

"At this time of economic difficulty, people want strong ministers taking tough decisions. It is time the Executive met and agreed a determined way forward. If they cannot do the job, they should not have nominated themselves for office."

ENDS