Councillor Trevor Wilson, Chair of the Ulster Unionist Councillors` Association, has stated that both the DUP and Sinn Fein should show more humility in the wake of their recent talks debacle.
Councillor Wilson said:
“This current farce has to end. There`s been over thirteen months of talking, with the Government leaving the DUP and Sinn Fein to their own devices and still no final agreement. Instead it has descended into an argument over whether there was or wasn`t agreement, with various politicians from the same party disagreeing over what was or wasn`t in the draft agreement co-authored by their colleague Edwin Poots.
“It is clear that extensive discussions took place about an Irish Language Act. This is both alarming and unnecessary. Why would any Unionist contemplate bringing in an unnecessary Irish Language Act when our Health Service is on the verge of collapse, roads can`t be maintained, school budgets are being squeezed and our infrastructure needs huge investment?
“Many deadlines have come and gone with no consequences which demonstrates weakness on the part of the government. Her Majesty`s Government needs to make urgent decisions on a budget and other key policy areas. Northern Ireland cannot be allowed to drift any longer.
“The latest revelations about side deals on legacy demonstrate utter naivety and show what a poor deal that the DUP were prepared to foist on unionism in their scramble to get back into power.
“Politics in Northern Ireland needs to see more humility from both the DUP and Sinn Fein in the wake of their talks debacle. It’s time that they put the people first instead of their respective parties.
“The Irish government should also remember that they have no say in the running of Northern Ireland. When they, Sinn Fein and the SDLP call for the protection of the Belfast Agreement they seem to forget that one of its key principles is that Strand One is a Northern Ireland and UK Government matter. To step beyond those agreed principles would be totally unacceptable and make a bad situation worse.”