Northern Ireland

Stormont leaders signal movement on programme for government in long-delayed answer to Sinn Féin MLA

It took the first and deputy first ministers more than three months to respond to Philip McGuigan’s written assembly question

Michell O'Neill (right) and Emma Little-Pengelly talking in front of a mic at the Northern Ireland Bureau Breakfast at the Wardolf Astoria hotel in Washington DC
First Minister Michelle O'Neill (right) and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. PICTURE: NIALL CARSON/PA (Niall Carson/PA)
By John Manley, Politics Correspondent

Stormont’s first and deputy first ministers insist they are “moving forward quickly” with the executive’s long-awaited programme for government.

But Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly’s latest line on the delayed policy plan has emerged in a response that took more than three months to muster.

The Executive Office (TEO) has been asked why it took so long to answer Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan’s written assembly question but so far there’s been no response.

According to SDLP MLA Colin McGrath, the episode is reflective of the executive’s “dither, delay and a total lack of delivery”.

Mr McGuigan asked for an update on the programme for government on May 16 and was expected to get an answer from the first and deputy first ministers within two-to-three weeks.

However, the North Antrim MLA only received a response on August 27, some 16 weeks after tabling the question.

Philip McGuigan said a late notification had left it impossible to hold an inquiry into two new EU regulations
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan. PICTURE: LIAM MCBURNEY/PA

“We are moving forward quickly with work to agree and publish a draft programme for government which not only reflects the need to significantly transform our public services, but also sets out our collective priorities for this mandate,” the joint leaders said.

Mr McGuigan was asked for comment but declined.

It is the second time in a matter of weeks that Ms O’Neill and Ms Pengelly have not responded to an assembly written question on time.

Last month, the Executive Office failed to respond punctually to a question about Belfast city centre car parking from DUP MLA Michelle McIlveen.

Its belated answer came after The Irish News queried the delay but again TEO declined to offer an explanation.

“The fact that it took three months to even answer a question on the programme for government from an executive MLA shows just how shambolic this process is,” Mr McGrath said.

“Dither, delay and a total lack of delivery from an unfocused and unserious government.”

The South Down MLA said the executive had “repeatedly promised progress” on a programme for government since the Stormont institutions were restored in February.

“You could be forgiven for thinking that they are struggling to agree on a programme or lack the vision to outline how they are going to improve life for people across the north during the remainder of this mandate,” he said.