{"id":26117,"date":"2022-05-04T08:28:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T12:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=26117"},"modified":"2022-05-04T10:32:17","modified_gmt":"2022-05-04T14:32:17","slug":"northern-leaders-clash-on-televised-debate-ahead-of-thursdays-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=26117","title":{"rendered":"Northern Leaders Clash On Televised Debate Ahead Of Thursday’s Elections"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Naomi Long, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, Michelle O\u2019Neill, Doug Beattie and Colum Eastwood all took part in the debate (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Northern Ireland\u2019s political leaders have clashed just days away from fresh Stormont Assembly elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Challenged to say whether they will form an Executive or refuse to accept their salaries if re-elected, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson reiterated his position that he will turn up on day one after the election, but will not form an Executive until concerns around the Northern Ireland Protocol are dealt with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the political institutions \u201cmust be sustainable\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sinn F\u00e9in vice president Michelle O\u2019Neill said it would be \u201cabsolutely unfathomable\u201d to tell the electorate that a new Executive would not be formed following the election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also said she still has not heard if unionist leaders will \u201caccept the democratic outcome of the election\u201d, in a seeming reference to opinion polls which suggest Sinn F\u00e9in will become the biggest party at Stormont and entitled to nominate a first minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Donaldson has not said if he will nominate a deputy first minister to serve along with a Sinn F\u00e9in first minister in the joint office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms O\u2019Neill accused the DUP of \u201cholding us all to ransom\u201d over its position on refusing to go back into an Executive without action on the Northern Ireland Protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The resignation of First Minister Paul Givan in February left the Executive unable to fully function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhilst the rest of us want to put money in the people\u2019s pockets and deal with the cost-of-living crisis, the DUP are telling people their identity is under threat,\u201d Ms O\u2019Neill said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Donaldson responded, pointing to the resignation of former deputy first minister Martin McGuinness which saw the Assembly collapse for three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said ministers continue in their posts, while Ms O\u2019Neill countered saying they are \u201ccaretaker ministers\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The leaders of the five largest parties took part in a live debate on BBC One Northern Ireland on Tuesday evening ahead of polling day on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said while they can talk about the cost-of-living crisis and the health services, \u201cnothing will be done about any of these issues if we don\u2019t have a government\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said government in the North cannot be stopped because the UK government and the European Commission have not reached an agreement over the protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UUP leader Doug Beattie said he wants to see a program for government agreed before a new Executive is formed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you agree the program for government first, its outcomes, what the budget is going to be\u2026 I think that\u2019s an important way for us to travel,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alliance leader Naomi Long said she will also be in Stormont ready to form an Executive if she is returned by the electorate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She urged that MLAs are \u201cnot locked out\u201d, adding she does not want the \u201cembarrassment\u201d of being paid her full salary as an MLA while the Assembly is not fully functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked about a border poll, Sir Jeffrey said he did not want one, saying it would be divisive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms O\u2019Neill said she is \u201cnot fixated\u201d on a date for a future border poll

Kamagra Ohne Rezept Kaufen<\/a><\/p> , describing the cost-of-living crisis as the big issue at present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Eastwood said the lack of government at Stormont is today\u2019s issue, not a border poll while Ms Long said her party will not be calling for a border poll, and instead focus on doing government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Beattie insisted a border poll is not close, and claimed the DUP are using the prospect of a border poll as \u201cscare tactics\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Voters will go to the polls on Thursday to elect 90 MLAs for 18 constituencies across Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Results are expected to become known from Friday following the counting of the votes.<\/p>\n

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