Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann MLA, has called on the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to take steps to restore a devolved government at Stormont.

Robin Swann MLA, said:

“Approximately 49 years ago Terence O'Neill stated that ‘Ulster stands at the crossroads’. Now Northern Ireland faces another critical crossroads.

“It’s a speech that has been often quoted and misquoted but as the UK moves to phase 2 of the BREXIT talks, Northern Ireland`s voice needs to be constructive, engaged & representative.

“It is imperative that the Secretary of State moves now to form a government for Northern Ireland. Now more than ever a collective voice of all the representatives from the province needs to be heard in Westminster and Brussels to get the best deal for all the people of Northern Ireland. And any Party that doesn't want to engage, should have its decision respected, whilst allowing the others to move on.

“Point 50 of the ‘Joint Report from the negotiators of the European Union and the United Kingdom Government’ bestows far greater responsibility on the Northern Ireland Assembly than either the Scottish or Welsh devolved governments.

“The final Withdrawal Agreement has the potential to deliver a bright and prosperous future for Northern Ireland, or if mishandled, has the potential of allowing political neglect to turn us into an economic wilderness. We must choose wisely.”

ENDS 

Notes to Editors:

Point 50 of the Joint Report from the negotiators of the European Union and the United Kingdom Government 

In the absence of agreed solutions, as set out in the previous paragraph, the United
Kingdom will ensure that no new regulatory barriers develop between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom, unless, consistent with the 1998 Agreement, the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly agree that distinct arrangements are appropriate for Northern Ireland. In all circumstances, the United Kingdom will continue to ensure the same unfettered access for Northern Ireland's businesses to the whole of the United Kingdom internal market.