Stormont’s legislative plan for the remaining six months of the year has been described as falling “weakly short” of the pledges made in the assembly since its restoration in February.
The remarks from the leader of the Opposition came on Tuesday as MLAs debated the legislative programme for the remainder of the calender year.
The programme does not cover proposed bills for the remainder of the mandate up to 2027.
In addition to ‘housekeeping’ legislation, various Stormont departments plan to table bills that will deal with defective buildings, pensions, child support enforcement and sign language.
The economy minister is also expected to bring forward legislation that will enable the closure of the Renewable Heat Incentive, some seven years after allegations of corruption relating to the scheme brought down Stormont,.
Elsewhere, the health minister aims to introduce three bills on the modernisation of public health legislation, adult protection and hospital parking charges.
But SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole described the programme as “anti-climactic”.
The Opposition leader welcomed what he termed “important worthwhile measures” such as putting the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council and bills on mother and baby homes public inquiries.
However, he described the programme as “light” and highlighted how the executive had yet to produce a programme for government nearly 130 days since the institutions were restored.
“Overall this legislative programme falls weakly short of the promises made in umpteen executive party motions before the assembly, promising action on everything from Lough Neagh to waiting lists to holiday hunger,” he said.
“Nothing in the legislative programme comes close to offering implementation of the assorted promises that have been made.”
The South Belfast MLA said the executive had been “long on PR but short on meaningful delivery”.
“Nearly 130 days into the mandate, there is still no programme for government and no sign of when we will get one,” he said.
“People in Northern Ireland will soon start to conclude that the executive is more interested in photo opportunities than delivery.”
On Monday, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly told the assembly that publication and consultation dates for the programme for government plan were under consideration due to the pre-election period.
