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Ulster Unionists are a party of the Union: working for an honest sharing of power and a fair, inclusive agenda for all

Leslie Cree, UUP Mayor of North Down at the Mayor's Charities Launch. L- R John Adamson, Asterias, Sgt Paula Batt, St John, Emma Rea, Fundraising Manager Macmillan Cancer Support

Twenty-four hours after the Assembly supported a UUP motion calling for the Executive Committee to "meet immediately," we welcome the fact that the Executive will meet on Thursday.

It is astonishing, though, to note that the DUP-Sinn Fein differences over Policing and Justice seem to be the sole issue which prevented the Executive from meeting. No other issue is mentioned in the documents released today.

That being the case, why wasn't this issue sorted out between the DUP and Sinn Fein at their own separate meetings; which would have allowed the Executive to meet and agree a common approach to address the impact of the worst economic downturn since the 1920s?

What were the last 152 days about?

And since there is no mention of education, the Irish Language, the National stadium etc, have we any guarantee that one or all of these issues won't become another excuse to place the Executive back in suspended animation?

Or are we to conclude that the DUP and Sinn Fein have another series of side deals?

Where is the guarantee that the people of Northern Ireland can expect uninterrupted government between now and 2011?

Where is the accountability in a system in which the DUP and Sinn Fein, without consulting the Assembly or Executive can both 'be minded' to appoint an Attorney General and then name the person? [more]

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Ulster Unionist Party
First Floor, 174 Albertbridge Road,
Belfast BT5 4GS
Tel: 028 9046 3200
Fax: 028 9045 6899