The DUP Cannot be Allowed Hold the North to Ransom Anymore -Tóibín
Aontú Leader and Meath West TD, Peadar Tóibín has stated;
“Speculation has increased that a deal on the Protocol is close. This is good news. It is intolerable that the democratic process in the north has been allowed to remain collapsed for so long. The people of the north are suffering from multiple crisis ranging from the cost of living crisis, to a health service that is overburdened and underfunded, to housing shortages ramping up prices and creating homelessness. The budgets for most departments are dangerously depleted. But there is also a democratic crisis. The majority of MLAs support the Protocol and the majority of people in the north according to polls either support the Protocol or can live with the Protocol. Indeed the Protocol has been good for the economy of the north”.
“The DUP’s intransigence has never been about business or the economy. Its always been about whether the Protocol changed the North’s position in the Union. They have painted themselves into a corner and have allowed the TUV to direct them. Everyone hopes that agreement can be achieved. Everyone hopes the DUP will stop holding the democratic process to ransom. But if they don’t we must move on without them. The DUP cannot be allowed to hold the north to ransom anymore”.
“We in Aontú have been calling for reform of the political institutions to prevent one party crashing the Executive ever again or preventing the Executive from being formed. We have gained support for our reform from the Tánaiste Mícheal Martin, among some MPs in Westminster and amongst elected representatives in Washington. The DUP have to be told, the train is leaving, with or without them. The crisis affecting the people of the north cannot be made wait any longer.
