Public has lost confidence in Sinn Fein and DUP ability to run the country

11.30.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 1st Oct 2008

Alliance Chief Whip Kieran McCarthy MLA

Alliance Chief Whip Kieran McCarthy MLA has said that the public have lost all confidence in the ability of Sinn Fein and the DUP to run the country. He said that vital frontline services are suffering with every day that Executive fails to meet. His comments come following yesterday's row over comments from Martin McGuinness.

Kieran McCarthy MLA stated: "The Executive has failed to meet for over three months and I believe that the public have lost all confidence in the ability of Sinn Fein and the DUP to run the country. Yesterday's row has further opened the chasm and deepened the crisis caused by the two parties.

"Frontline public services are suffering with every day that the Executive fails to meet. I do not want to see our health service and education system being hit because of Sinn Fein and the DUP's failures to break the deadlock. That will be the inevitable consequence of their political immaturity.

"With every day that passes there's another row or snub which further dents public confidence in the two parties. How selfish are Sinn Fein to refuse to meet during this time of financial crisis? The public will not forget their immature and irresponsible behaviour. What good is a government that does not work?

"The public are not having sleepless nights over the devolution of justice - they are however worried sick about not being able to pay their bills. It's the duty of the Executive to deal with the real issues of public concern, instead of running away from them.

"The Executive crisis is deepening and I would urge the two parties to get back to work now, before it's too late. Northern Ireland simply cannot afford any more instability."

ENDS