Daily
Dispatch Thursday 29th March 2007
MAGINNESS
– LETS TRANSFER HOPE INTO ACTION
SDLP Assembly Group Chair Alban Maginness MLA has said that all
parties must make the most of the time between now and the 8th
of May to prepare for a smooth transition from Direct Rule to
devolved control of government. Speaking today Mr Maginness stated:
“The political progress made this week is welcome and people
on the ground across the North and the island are enthusiastic
and hopeful that progress can be made in the coming weeks and
months. The SDLP will play a full part in ensuring that accountable,
stable, and efficient government for the North becomes an inclusive
and long term reality. We are looking forward to the challenge
and eager to get started.
For over thirty years the SDLP has advocated inclusive power sharing
in the North and strong all Ireland bodies with Executive powers.
The return of stable devolved government in the coming weeks is
a vindication of this stance and looking forward now we all must
take responsibility for making it work.
It is clear that there is a need for the parties to meet in the
next week to discuss and map out a strategy for a smooth handover
to local Ministers on May 8th. Whilst many of the issues facing
the devolved Executive are well known and well documented there
is a need for departments and Executive parties to undertake close
working relationships in the next five weeks. For that to happen
parties should agree which Ministries will be allocated to each
party as soon as possible. We need to build a reality behind the
welcome sense of momentum that is developing. Lets make the most
of the time between now and devolution to ensure that the hope
expressed on the ground will be translated into action in Government.”
DOSSIER
OF LENIENT SENTENCES ON LOYALISTS
SDLP Justice Spokesman Alban Maginness has today written to the
Criminal Justice Inspector complaining about lenient sentencing
of loyalist paramilitaries. He has forwarded a dossier reveals
no less than twenty instances where loyalists were able to skip
jail despite being convicted of the most serious offences
