- Process is drifting along
- Meeting of Party Leaders should take place as soon as possible
- Ideology should not trump rights of most vulnerable
Reacting to the statement from the Secretary of State in Westminster today, Ulster Unionist Leader, Robin Swann MLA, said:
“The public will be outraged that this process seems to be drifting along with no outcomes. Last week we were asked to give the two largest parties time and space to reach agreement and here we are, one week on, seemingly no closer to a deal. This cannot go on forever. There is too much at stake.
“Last Thursday I called for a meeting of Party Leaders to take place and as yet nothing has happened. That needs to change. This was supposed to be a process to inject public confidence back into the institutions and it`s failing to do so. We need to change the pace and direction of these talks. That means everyone getting around the table.
“As for those who pontificate about respect, where is the respect for the people waiting for hospital appointments; where is the respect for the victims of historical institutional abuse; and where is the respect for school pupils returning to education in September with doubts hanging over how their schools will be funded. Ideology should not be allowed to trump the rights of the most vulnerable in our society.”