‘Sticking plaster’ approach to Stormont collapse must now end, insists Tory MP
THE Government must “move beyond a sticking plaster approach” to the collapse in power-sharing in Northern Ireland, MPs have warned.
Dr Andrew Murrison, who chairs the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster, yesterday warned against using civil servants as decision-makers in the absence of a functioning legislature at Stormont.
Several DUP MPs sit on Dr Murrison’s committee, as does North Down MP Lady Hermon, as well as MPs with strong Northern Ireland links, including Labour’s Kate Hoey and Conor McGinn.
More than 600 days have passed since the Stormont Executive collapsed.
Despite attempts to restart the talks process, there is no sign that a functioning devolved Assembly and Executive will be restored in the foreseeable future.
Last week Secretary of State Karen Bradley announced a plan to cut Assembly Members’ pay and bring forward legislation giving greater clarity around civil servants’ powers to make decisions in the absence of a functioning Executive.
Power-sharing collapsed early last year in a row over the DUP’s handling of the bungled Renewable Heat Incentive scheme, and a dispute over identity issues like the Irish language has seen repeated rounds of negotiations fail.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph last night, Mr Murrison said the political impasse was now materially impacting on day-to-day-life — affecting planning decisions, health matters and more.
Civil servants in Northern Ireland “have been placed in an unenviable position”, he said.
“I’m pleased that the Secretary of State is now going to bring forward legislation that will protect Northern Ireland civil servants from judicial review, but that can only be a temporary answer.
“It’s not right for civil servants to be making decisions that would normally be made by a minister.”
The committee chairman said that the Government had “started to think about plugging the democratic deficit” by acting on MLA pay and moves to restore the Policing Board. But he added: “We are glad that the Secretary of State has acknowledged that more clarity is needed on the powers of civil servants to take decisions in the light of re- cent legal challenge. However, whilst we keenly await further detail on this, we are clear that civil servants should not continue to be expected to make determinations that in a functioning democracy fall to ministers.
“There is no evidence in the Government response to our report, nor in the Secretary of State’s comments last week, to suggest that talks to restore devolution are imminent.
“We must move beyond a sticking plaster approach and do more to facilitate sustainable governance in the region with proper accountability and scrutiny mechanisms.”
Mr Murrison said it was not for his committee to prescribe to the Secretary of State how she should act, saying: “If I was in Karen Bradley’s position, I would not want to take direct rule pow- ers.” But in the absence of a devolved Assembly and Executive, he felt the Government had to act.
“I don’t care how they do it, but Northern Ireland needs proper government,” he said.
Earlier this week DUP leader Arlene Foster warned the Government not to “subcontract” its role in restoring power-sharing, after calls were made for independent mediation in the dispute.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O’Neill met Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney in Dublin and said it was disgraceful that an Executive was not in place.
She added: “The reason we have not had it is because of the British Government and their toxic relationship with the DUP.”
❝ It’s not right for civil servants to be making decisions that normally are made by a Minister