Ulster Unionist MLA, Doug Beattie MC, has tabled a petition to recall the Assembly on Tuesday 22 October to discuss the effects of 1,000 days without devolution.
Doug Beattie MC MLA said:
“The decision by the DUP to initiate a recall petition to discuss abortion reform on Monday has rightly been called a stunt. The fact is Monday will change nothing unless there is an Executive in place. We have had over 1,000 days of spiralling health waiting lists, crisis in education and buckling public services.
“If we can be in the Chamber to debate abortion reform on Monday, then we can bethere on Tuesday too to discuss how the country is falling down round us.
“This farce has gone on for too long and pressure must be applied. There is no talks process. There isn’t even talks about a talks process. The DUP and Sinn Fein have been allowed to sit around with their dummy thrown out for too long.”
The wording of the motion on the recall petition is as follows:
That this Assembly expresses its anger and deep frustration that Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government for almost three years, notes that over that time the pressures and challenges facing the full range of key public services have deepened exponentially and calls for the immediate restoration of a fully functional and accountable Northern Ireland Executive.