{"id":25051,"date":"2022-02-03T14:37:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-03T19:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25051"},"modified":"2022-02-07T09:43:59","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T14:43:59","slug":"mcdonald-calls-for-early-election-after-givan-resigns-as-first-minister","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25051","title":{"rendered":"McDonald Calls For Early Election After Givan Resigns As First Minister"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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(l-r) Sinn F\u00e9in MLA Conor Murphy, party president Mary-Lou McDonald and MLA Michelle O\u2019Neill (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sinn F\u00e9in president Mary-Lou McDonald has called for an early Stormont election, insisting her party will not facilitate Northern Ireland \u201cstaggering on\u201d without a functioning Executive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was speaking alongside ministers Michelle O\u2019Neill and Conor Murphy as First Minister Paul Givan\u00a0announced his resignation as part of a protest at the Northern Ireland Protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms McDonald said in the absence of a functioning executive, an early election \u201cmust be called, and the people must have their say\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis ruse by the DUP to ratchet up tension and pressure in an ill-conceived attempt to get rid of the Protocol will not succeed, the Protocol is necessary, the changes or adaptations that are required to it, that work will be done through the Joint Committee, but for us ultimately, the people will finally be the arbiters and the decision makers in all of these regards,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms O\u2019Neill said she spoke to Mr Givan \u201cvery briefly\u201d on the phone on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said her message to him in private was the same as Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s in public \u2013 that the DUP\u2019s actions are a \u201cdeliberate act of harm against wider society\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms McDonald said: \u201cThis is one of those defining moments. We can do so much better than this chaotic theatre. Power-sharing can work, but it can only work if parties involved are committed to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood government can deliver, of that there is no doubt. And that is what we, and we believe the other parties, wants to see happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo if today\u2019s behavior and decisions of the DUP show anything, it is again demonstrable evidence that we live in a time for real change, and this includes the prospect of constitutional change, as set out in the Good Friday Agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It had been hoped to be pass a number of major pieces of legislation, including a three-year Stormont budget, a Climate Change Bill and a Bill on organ donation, before the Assembly was due to be dissolved at the end of March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms McDonald said the situation is a \u201cdisgrace\u201d when crucial legislation needs to be passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe DUP actions have consequences, real consequences, for people struggling with the cost of living, consequences for businesses trying to rebuild after Covid, consequences for our health service, for waiting lists,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd it is a matter of disgrace that the budget now won\u2019t be passed and that investment in services such as cancer care and mental health are now in serious jeopardy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms O\u2019Neill said she has been in contact with other party leaders to meet to discuss the outstanding legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very clear there are catastrophic impacts in terms of the DUP\u2019s action today and there are many casualties as a result of their political opportunism,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have approached other party leaders, we need to work at pace to deliver on the rest of the legislation, things like the organ donation Bill that we want to see delivered upon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also expressed anger that a planned public apology to survivors of historical institutional abuse cannot now be delivered by the First and deputy First Ministers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are many many casualties to what the DUP has done today, I got an email this afternoon from a victim of historical institutional abuse and feel that this is catastrophic, this is the impact for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am angry on that person\u2019s behalf because the DUP are hell-bent on pursuing a strategy that is just about their own selfish interests, that\u2019s not good enough, the public expect better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Murphy said it had been the first three year Budget in almost a decade at Stormont.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt gives us the opportunity, even though it\u2019s not enough resource, to plan ahead, to put the focus on dealing with the big issues in health including cancer treatments and waiting lists, and all of that is put in jeopardy because of a decision will not be able to be taken in relation to the Budget,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt has to be concluded and in place for the end of this financial year in law which means it is just a carry over Budget that will be delivered with no prioritization, no strategy attached to it, and that has very real consequences for people who are relying on the health service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Murphy said ministers were also looking forward to an Executive meeting next Thursday to make \u201csignificant changes\u201d in terms of the remaining coronavirus restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe now stay in limbo with restrictions that possibly are no longer necessary until such times as that situation can end.\u201d<\/p>\n

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