Speaking to trade union leaders today, ICTU Assistant General Secretary Owen Reidy said
Today’s decision of the DUP to pull out of the NI Executive is highly regrettable, but not surprising as they have been threatening this for some time. It is hoped that with the legislation going through Westminster from the New Decade New Approach agreement, that Ministers can continue to oversee decisions already taken and the NI Assembly can scrutinise this for the next few weeks until the election.
However a withdrawal from government, at this time and on this issue, is nevertheless damaging. This undermines the devolved settlement which destabilises the crucial and important strand 1 relationship of the Belfast/Good Friday agreement, and further undermines the public’s confidence in devolution as many things which need to be done now, will not now be completed.
The attempted politicisation of the public servants by some is unacceptable and dangerous and must be called out. The NI Civil Service, Border Force and Animal Welfare experts are fine working woman and men who have the unenviable and unique task of seeking to serve a disparate 5 party involuntary coalition without fear or favour. The independence of our civil service and all public servants is sacrosanct.
Clearly this action and its timing is highly political. But what must be said is the protocol, with all its challenges for all opinions in Northern Ireland, is a direct result of a hard Brexit pursued by the UK government and regrettably supported by the DUP. It is also an agreement freely entered into by the UK government and the EU which must be honoured and implemented unless the parties together seek to amend, alter or change any aspect of it.
The approach and behaviour of this Tory UK government has been unacceptable, haphazard and reckless. In reality the government has shown no regard for any community in Northern Ireland. It is essential that all local politicians and all representative bodies in civic society seek to make local devolution work in the interests of everyone in Northern Ireland. The announcement today of the DUP to leave the NI Executive makes this more difficult, but even more necessary.
