Powerless Dáil is window dressing on a mandateless gov that cant legislate – Tóibín
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD has accused both Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens of “dangerously dragging their feet on government formation”. He stated;
“82 days have passed since the General Election and yet no new government is in sight. Unofficially mid-June is now seen as the target date for government formation. A wait of another 50 days is shocking on so many levels”.
“In our view the process of government formation in the jaws of this health & economic catastrophe is dangerously slow. We've a powerless Dáil that meets once a week as window dressing on a mandateless gov that can't legislate”.
“In terms of legislation to deal with this crisis the Dáil is now paralysed. In terms of oversight and accountability of Ministers who are no longer TDs, the Dáil is impotent and ineffectual. When so much of Irish society is in crisis Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens don’t have the luxury of a never-ending slow set”.
“We in Aontú have said that such is the depth of this crisis, no party should walk away from trying at least to formulate a government. While we radically disagree with the policies that have created so much division in Ireland over the last 10 years we realise that we have a responsibility to make a real effort to push for a complete change in direction in the next government”.
“We have spoken to government representatives on government formation. We have submitted a detailed Government Formation Negotiation Document to the government which outlines our government objectives. This document focuses on Housing, Healthcare, Transport infrastructure and real Regional Development”.
“However we are not going to participate in a never ending merry dance in this time of massive need. Get real and form a government now. There's no other sector of Ireland where this would be acceptable”.