Salaries worth £15m paid to MLAs despite Stormont being shuttered for 1,000 days

Salaries worth £15m paid to MLAs despite Stormont being shuttered for 1,000 days - Tóibín

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD has castigated the payment of £15m in salaries to MLAs in the north who refuse to represent their constituents in Stormont.

An Teachta Tóibín stated:

“There are 300,000 people in poverty in the north. 30,000 food parcels were handed out last year. 11,000 people are homeless. Suicide rates in the north are far higher than in the south or in Britain. Mental health services are grossly underfunded. Yet the elected representatives of the people who refuse to take up seats are paid £15 million in salaries.

“Millions of pounds are also drawn down in expenses. That this farce is allowed continue against a background of such extreme human difficulties and crisis is shocking. We had that incredible situation this week in relation to an extremely divisive issue where Sinn Féin refused to turn up. The SDLP had only warmed their seats when they staged a walk out for the cameras.

"The dysfunctionality of the parties of the Assembly is leading directly to enormous societal stress and pressures. The practice of financially rewarding this dysfunction has to stop."

CRÍOCH

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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.