Sunak Needs to Proceed without the DUP says Tóibín
Aontú leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has called for Rishi Sunak to proceed with the EU Protocol deal without the DUP.
As the DUP pour over the small print, An Teachta Tóibín said it was time to move on.
Peadar Tóibín said: “The DUP achieved just 0.7% of the 2019 Westminster election vote, yet their intransigence has erased the democratic institutions in the north of Ireland, led to political chaos in London for 7 years and has poured poison into EU/British relationships.
“The DUP is not interested to doing a deal. Their limited and narrow focus is on defending the Unionist vote from hardliners in the TUV.
“All the while the North of Ireland is drifting along in political and economic chaos.
“Budgets for public services are on the floor and we are in the grip of Spring of discontent with much of the Public Service on strikes. Staff recruitment and retention in public services is becoming increasingly difficult.
“This is leading to the closure of services in Enniskillen, Daisy Hill and Causeway Coast Hospitals. The severity of the cost of living crisis is being ignored by a political class in paralysis.
“The DUP are already changing the goal posts in terms of the latest deal. Jeffery Donaldson is looking for an exit, a method to refuse the Sunak deal without appearing like a refusenik.
“Remember that the majority of people in the North voted to remain in the EU. The majority of MLAs support the Protocol and the majority of business have said that the Protocol is good for businesses.
“Sunak is at a crossroads. The DUP will not agree to a Protocol deal. Sunak must proceed with the deal. Britain came close to financial disaster under Truss and Sunak wont risk EU trade difficulties.
“Also the Brexit vote has reduced in importance. If this comes to pass, the British and Irish government’s must not allow the Executive to remain shut.
“The DUP/SF veto must be ended. Stormont must be reformed and elected representatives must get about fixing the many crises besetting the people,” said Peadar Tóibín.
