“The North of Ireland, Who is in Charge?- Tóibín

Peadar Tóibín has reacted to the resignation of the Northern Irish secretary Brandon Lewis.

Speaking today, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said “ Many people in the north of Ireland will be delighted that Brandon Lewis has resigned. We in Aontú welcome his resignation. His tenure has been a disaster for the north of Ireland. There is confusion at this point as to whether his resignation has been accepted by the British Prime Minister. The British government must provide clarity on who is filling the role of the Northern Secretary following Lewis’ resignation. With a non-existent Executive and the north being racked with crisis such as the Cost of Living, Housing, Healthcare, the Protocol and Legacy issues, it is incredible that Tory chaos now leaves the north without even a Northern Secretary. Lewis resignation underpins how out of touch the British government is with the situation in the North of Ireland.”

Tóibín continued “Lewis is resigning at a time when the Northern assembly is in complete disarray. There has been a complete failure to make any head way in restoring the executive or putting aside play-ground politics to work for the benefit of the people of the North. The British government has been completely destructive in its approach to the North of Ireland protocol and Legacy issues undermining the principles of the Good Friday agreement.”

“Lewis’ resignation shows that Tory chaos is limitless. The question for Ireland is, how long do we tolerate this? The strategy of the Irish Government is to stand idly by. We should take note of what’s happening in Scotland and start to look at the constitutional solutions to this chaos, to the threats to the Protocol, to the legacy legislation. We should be developing a New Ireland Forum to invite political and civic society groups to start the discussions on All Ireland solutions to this chaos. Now is not the time for political paralysis on this side of the Irish Sea. Now is the time for calm logical all Ireland progress”.

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.