Stormont Needs to be Reformed to Prevent the DUP Holding it to Ransom

Stormont Needs to be Reformed to Prevent the DUP Holding it to Ransom – Tóibín

Aontú Leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín TD stated;

Aontú condemns the DUP collapse of the democratic institutions in the north of Ireland. We condemn their threat to prevent a new Executive being formed until they get their way on the North of Ireland Protocol. We are appalled that this has happened 44,000 people are left on the Housing Waiting List, when 250,000 people are left on the health waiting lists for longer than a year, when there are 241,000 people living in poverty, when investment west of the Bann is on the floor and when the cost-of-living is spiralling.

We demand that wages be removed from all DUP MLAs until an Executive is reformed. We demand that that wages are withheld from all MLAs after an election until an Executive is formed. We demand that reforms are made to Stormont to prevent any one party pulling down the Executive again.

The majority of the people of the north voted to remain within the EU. Polls clearly indicate that majority of people of the north support the North of Ireland Protocol or can live with it. The DUP’s mandate is not more equal than others. The DUP cannot be allowed to hold the north of Ireland to ransom.

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.