Strike action is delayed
Stormont’s new leaders in pledge to work together
TRANSPORT workers have delayed their upcoming strike action to give political leaders at Stormont “space” to make an improved pay offer.
There was no public transport across Northern Ireland last Thursday as more than 3,000 members of Unite, SIPTU and GMB trade unions took to the picket line at Translink sites.
This latest action was due to be followed by three further strike days on February 15, 27 and 28.
Given the potential for the incoming Infrastructure Minister John O’dowd to move quickly and offer workers a pay increase, it was unanimously agreed by all three unions to reschedule next week’s industrial action.
Peter Macklin, GMB Organiser, said: “However, they should be under no illusions, in the absence of any such offer, our members will be left with no alternative but to proceed with the planned three-day action at the end of the month.”
STORMONT’S new leaders have vowed to work in unity to press the UK Government for more funding to tackle the long list of problems facing public services.
First Minister Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’neill and her DUP counterpart, deputy First Minister Emma Little-pengelly, met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar yesterday.
The powersharing institutions were restored on Saturday after a deal between the UK Government and the DUP to address unionist concerns over post-brexit trading arrangements.
Ms O’neill said she and Ms Little-pengelly had put on a “united front” as they delivered a loud and clear message to Mr Sunak that a €3.8billion Treasury package to accompany the return of devolution was not sufficient.
Ms Little-pengelly said securing enough money to meet the pay demands of striking public sector workers was a key ask of the Government.
The ministers conducted their first joint press conference ahead of convening a meeting of the new Executive at Stormont Castle.
Earlier in the day, all the Executive ministers gathered at the castle for separate meetings with Mr Sunak and then Mr Varadkar.
While the Prime Minister has said the €3.8billion offer represents a “generous and fair settlement”, Stormont ministers have collectively penned a letter to the
We are working on the basis we will be successful. MICHELLE O’NEILL YESTERDAY AT STORMONT
Government insisting it is not enough to deliver “sustainable public services and public finances”.
They say more money, along with further reform of the funding model for the region, is required if they are to get on top of a bulging in-tray following two years of political impasse.
Earlier, Taoiseach Mr Varadkar insisted the Irish government was willing to help Northern Ireland with further financial support.
Ms O’neill said the Executive needed more money to deliver good public services.
She said: “The offer on the table sounds good on the face of it, but whenever you break it down into the details there’s a lot
more to be done here. If we’re going to be successful politically, we need to also have the resources to deliver good public services.
“I think the Prime Minister heard that very loudly and clearly from both Emma and I collectively, and from all Executive colleagues.”
She added: “We are not working on failure, we are working on the basis that we are going to be successful.
CHALLENGES
Ms Little-pengelly said Executive ministers had to work together to meet the financial challenges.
The DUP MLA said: “Within every department there are very important issues.
“But the key thing here is we are only going to find resolutions for those by working together and working constructively together. That’s what we’re up for, I think the rest of the Executive is up for that challenge.”
Prior to their meeting with Executive ministers, Mr Sunak and Mr Varadkar met for private discussions at Stormont.
However, they did not conduct any joint meetings with local politicians or hold a joint press conference.
The lack of a side-by-side public appearance fuelled talk of tensions in the Anglo-irish relationship following Ireland’s move to launch a legal challenge against the UK Government’s contentious legislation to address the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles.
Both sides moved to play down suggestions a rift between them. During his individual press conference, Mr Varadkar highlighted the Irish government had already invested millions of euros in projects in the North that had a cross-border element, and more funding pledges through its Shared Island Initiative would be forthcoming.
The bulk
Irish investment in the
of
Ministers return to Stormont region has focused on capital infrastructure projects.
The Taoiseach, addressing reporters in Parliament Buildings in Belfast, said he was confident the new administration would last.
He added: “There’s a lot of everyday issues that need attention here, and I know they’re going to work very hard
on that.
“We’re keen to get
northof south co-operation going again and have a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in the next couple of weeks.
Following suggestions over the weekend about the prospect of a United Ireland drawing nearer Mr Sunak insisted Stormont’s leaders should focus on the “day-today” concerns of people, rather than the prospect of a poll on reunification.
He made clear that “constitutional change” was not a priority in response to weekend comments from Ms O’neill in which she claimed a border referendum could be held in the next 10 years.
Mr Varadkar would not be drawn on the question of reunification when asked by reporters.
Speaker Edwin Poots
STORMONT Speaker Edwin Poots has told TUV boss Jim Allister he would have “cleaned his clock” over a jibe at the DUP man on Saturday.
The DUP veteran took aim at the anti-deal unionist after Mr Allister taunted the South Belfast MLA for moving from “Mr Seismic to Mr Speaker.”
It was a reference to the former Agriculture Minister’s assertion last year that it would take “something seismic” from the Government for the DUP to return to power-sharing.
Speaking today as he welcomed Rishi Sunak to Stormont, Mr Poots said: “I couldn’t respond to Mr Allister [on Saturday]. He certainly would have had his clock cleaned if I clould have.”
package from British Government is still not enough say Ministers
We are up for the challenge of working together. EMMA LITTLE-PENGELLY YESTERDAY AT STORMONT
PUNCHED
The expression can be construed as a warning to someone that they’re about to defeat or beat you decisively or even that they’re going to punch you, with the clock being a reference to a person’s face that is about to get punched.
In a tweet responding to the comment, Jim Allister was unequivocal in his interpretation.
He said: “So Mr Speaker would have liked to have punched me in the face on Saturday!
“Quite a seismic departure from the supposed impartiality and objectivity of an office supposed to defend the rights of all MLAS.”
Jim Allister