Ford says it's time to make devolution work

11.50.00am GMT Fri 12th Jun 2009

"The Assembly is supposed to legislate to make North Ireland a better place, yet Ministers are not proposing new laws."

Alliance Leader David Ford has said that the European election result underlines the need for the Stormont Executive parties to make devolution work. He said the best way to answer critics is to show that the institutions can deliver improvements in people's everyday lives.

David Ford said: "The best way to answer critics is to start delivering for people in Northern Ireland. The Executive parties are not fulfilling the potential that devolution holds.

"We have seen very few fresh ideas from the Stormont Executive. The Assembly is supposed to legislate to make North Ireland a better place, yet Ministers are not proposing new laws. Week after week in the Assembly, motions from ordinary Members are debated and the results are then ignored by Ministers. This is unacceptable. We need to see genuine action coming from Executive on issues of real significance for people.

"We are in the grip of a devastating economic downturn and we need to see radical moves to create new jobs here. Alliance has put forward a policy on a sustainable road to recovery, that focuses on creating jobs in the green economy and using renewable energy and home insulation schemes to help cut people's heating bills whilst boosting the construction sector.

"The public image is of an Executive that is failing to deliver, and failing to agree on basic policies, even when they should be non-contentious. Two years on from the so-called 'historic agreement' the hopes of the people of Northern Ireland are being dashed.

"We need to see creativity and decisive action from the Executive to help our economy and allay people's fears at this difficult time.

"Inaction in the Executive plays into the hands of negative elements. The DUP and Sinn Féin must clearly demonstrate that they are going to knuckle down and make devolution work better for everyone in Northern Ireland."