SDLP PRESS STATEMENT

15th May 2006

SDLP Assembly Group Leader Alban Maginness said the party’s opposition to powerless assemblies has been made absolutely clear all down the line.
He said: “We opposed the toothless gatherings of the 1980s, and we opposed the Comprehensive Agreement which Sinn Fein supported two years ago, on the same grounds.
“The assembly which will meet on Monday is is not the Assembly mentioned in the Good Friday Agreement. This is Peter Hain’s assembly, nominated and absolutely controlled by the Secretary of State.
“We want progress. Our central concern is to push things forward, to get the Agreement implemented and get an Executive elected, and that is what we will be trying to make happen.
“We will be testing the Secretary of State to see whether he is prepared to listen to the elected representatives on key issues. If he is prepared to adopt measures which have support in this assembly, he will prove it has some purpose. But of he rejects the will of the assembly or merely makes token concessions, it will indeed be powerless.”

ENDS

Further information:

SDLP Press Office
028 9052 1837

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