SDLP Councillor Tina Gardiner said she was “disappointed but not surprised” when Sinn Féin failed to back the SDLP motion in Derry City and Strabane District Council that called on both the Irish and British Governments to immediately convene the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in the absence of a functioning executive and Assembly.
Cllr Gardiner said:
“I am extremely disappointed but not surprised that Sinn Féin united with the DUP to block the SDLP motion that called on the Irish and British Governments to immediately convene the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in the absence of a functioning executive and Assembly. Sinn Féin instead attempted to amend the motion simply to remove any responsibility they had to secure a deal with the DUP to restore government.
“Despite the rhetoric we have heard on the airwaves from Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald around the Intergovernmental Conference, Sinn Féin’s Councillors decided to vote against the SDLP motion and instead vote with the DUP.
“For all the big talk from the Sinn Féin leadership about defending all peoples here and breaking the deadlock – Sinn Féin councillors failed to walk the walk.
“It is outrageous that Sinn Féin and the DUP can cosy up together in council to block council support for the only solution that has been put on the table to break the deadlock. This week the SDLP Leader travelled to Dublin and to London to make it clear that jointly both Governments should convene the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference to agree to legislate to end the impasse.
“The SDLP is very clear, after 13 months of no government, the public shouldn’t have to wait anymore for progress.
“The British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference is a part of the Good Friday Agreement, it offers the option for the Governments to help break the deadlock between the DUP and Sinn Féin – and while the SDLP is pushing across these islands to defend our agreement to protect both traditions on this island – the DUP and Sinn Féin continue to quarrel on the airwaves.
“This isn’t delivering a rights based society for anyone – all that Sinn Féin and the DUP have managed to deliver is the status quo that characterised their ten years in Government together – the status quo of failure and broken promises.”
The SDLP motion read as follows:“Given the recent failure of the SF/DUP talks and the urgent requirement for proper governance in Northern Ireland, which reflects the requirements, cultures and aspirations of our diverse communities, Council calls on both the Irish and British governments to immediately convene the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in the absence of a functioning executive and Assembly; and further calls on the Irish and British governments to strengthen the implementation and workings of the institutions under Strands 2 and 3 of the Good Friday agreement.”
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