Likely Date for Northern Assembly Election is the 15th of December 2022

Likely Date for Northern Assembly Election is the 15th of December 2022 – Tóibín

Addressing the Taoiseach in the Dáil today, Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín TD has called for reform of the Stormont Election in advance of the proposed Assebly Election on December 15th. An Teachta Tóibín indicated to the Taoiseach that Aontú had received a letter from the Electoral Commission of the North of Ireland that stated “should a Northern of Ireland Assembly election be called it is likely that the day of poll will be the 15th December”. An

Teachta Tóibín stated; “Today we are told that the elections in the north of Ireland may now take place on the 15th of December. If they do take place without the reform of Stormont, if we do not prevent the DUP having the ability to block an Executive or collapse the Executive, this election will be a sham. If there is no reform of the Stormont institutions, the election will lead us to exactly the same stalemate that we are in at the moment”.

“We in Aontú have for many years called for the reform of Stormont so that it operates democratically and serves this the people especially in this time of extreme need. We have the incredible situation where MLAs are drawing down millions of pounds in salary and not doing their job while the citizens they are meant to serve are suffering the worst Cost of Living crisis in generations. It would be profoundly undemocratic to allow this situation to continue any longer. I welcome that the Alliance Party is joining Aontú in also seek reform of the institutions. I also welcome that this government has now accepted the need for reform of the institutions. But your promise of reform in 5 years’ time is no going to help families struggling now. We are calling on the southern government to help fix the crisis that families in the 6 counties are in and work with the British government to end the stalemate in Stormont”.

CRÍOCH

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.