The Suspension of Democracy In The North of Ireland Is Dangerous and Damaging

The Suspension of Democracy In The North of Ireland Is Dangerous and Damaging – Tóibín

Commenting on the decision by the British Secretary of State for the North of Ireland to push the timetable for the reformation of the Executive and or Stormont Elections back to January 2024 Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín stated:

“It is outrageous that the British Government has suspended the democratic process in the north of Ireland. It is intolerable in a democracy that the elected representatives of the majority of people would be prevented from doing their job by a minority. It is intolerable that fixing the crises in the cost of living, the health service, housing and transport would simply would postponed because of the political objectives of one party. The north is facing multiple budgetary crisis that are having real impacts on peoples ability to live, to get accommodation, to get healthcare and have their children education properly and yet the system is in paralysis”.

“It takes a special type of arrogance for a political party to delete the democratic rights of all citizens on the basis of their own narrow political objectives. It takes a certain type of arrogance to expect to get paid while doing nothing. Its damaging to the lives of hundreds of thousands of people who are in desperate need in the north. Is also dangerous because it send out the message that democratic politics does not work”.

“It has been Aontú policy for years now that the law underpinning Stormont must be reformed to prevent one party crashing Stormont or one party preventing and Executive being formed. We have raised it in the Dáil and Mícheál Martin when Taoiseach positively supported the proposition. I have raised it with Senators, Congressmen and women in Washington DC and with MPs and members of the House of Lords in Westminster. In both locations and across parties our reform proposal received positive support”.

“The Irish Government and the British Government are the guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. The truth is they are not guaranteeing anything. It is now time to actively review and reform the legislation. We in Aontú are investigating the production of a Bill to deliver this reform. We urge other political parties to join wit his to break the stalemate”.

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.