Executive failing North, says Donaldson

Devolution in the North will perish if urgent concerns about fuel and food poverty are not addressed, Democratic Unionists warned today.

The ministerial Executive at Stormont is paralysed by the debate on policing and needs to deliver on existing responsibilities before taking on new ones, Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson said.

The Executive has not met for three months because Sinn Féin is refusing to attend meetings until agreement is reached on handing over policing responsibilities to a local minister.

Mr Donaldson said: “Quite frankly, the Executive is failing to deliver on its existing responsibilities, never mind contemplating the acquisition of new ones.

“The talk on the street is not about who appoints judges or regulates policing. It is about who is going to put bread on the table or heat the home this winter.

“Devolution will perish if we do not wake up to this reality.”

Last Thursday’s Executive meeting became the latest to be cancelled, although Sinn Féin has submitted separate proposals for helping those in need.

Other issues which republicans are unhappy about include deadlocked education reform and lack of progress on an Irish language act.

The DUP has not ruled out accepting policing into a Stormont ministry, probably under a minister from outside the two largest parties.

During a fringe meeting at Labour’s Manchester conference, Donaldson reiterated that DUP members saw more pressing problems.

“People, particularly the most vulnerable, are literally fighting for survival,” he added.

“In the face of such circumstances, the Executive is paralysed whilst some indulge in the luxury of a debate about taking on extra responsibilities.”

He criticised as a “miscalculation of the highest order” Gordon Brown’s decision to concentrate his address in the Assembly last Tuesday on policing while “ignoring” Sinn Féin’s behaviour.

“The product of their actions was not to advance movement on policing and justice but rather to further convince unionists that if Northern Ireland was still under Direct Rule the Government would be dancing to Sinn Féin’s tune,” he added.

Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward yesterday said he was optimistic of progress and added that he wanted to see policing devolved.

Foyle Assembly member Raymond McCartney said talks with the DUP were continuing.

“I think what they have to demonstrate by addressing these issues is that they are committed to solving them,” he added.