SDLP Youth: Devolved Government Must Be More Than Just a Photo-Op A Day

Devolution must Work

The Northern Ireland Assembly must immediately set to work addressing the
real issues facing people living here, rather than simply being a photo-op a
day for some of the key players, SDLP Youth Chairman Gary McKeown has said.

Mr. McKeown added: "This is not the first time the parties of the north have
been given the opportunity to govern, but let's hope that this time
devolution is for good.

"Direct Rule ministers have been allowed to operate here unchecked for too
long- top-up fees, antiquated infrastructure, lack of affordable housing,
PPS14 planning restrictions, massive rates bills and the shadow of water
charges are the outworking of an unaccountable and undemocratic remote
control Direct Rule administration. Now is the time to start untangling the
mess which three decades of Direct Rule have caused."

Mr. McKeown also said: "It is now incumbent on the DUP and Sinn Féin to
correct the problems that years of stop-start politics have created."

"The Good Friday Agreement was Sunningdale for slow learners, and the St.
Andrews Agreement was the Good Friday Agreement for slow learners- hopefully
history will record that the period of slow learning is over and the era of
hard working has dawned. The SDLP will be working hard to make devolved
government work, as it has been since 1998. An operational Northern Ireland
Assembly, as envisaged by the Good Friday Agreement, is the only way to
deliver real progress for the people of the north."

ENDS

08-05-07