MAGINNESS - SINN FEIN FAILING TO REPRESENT IN EUROPE
20-05-08

Former SDLP European Committee of the Regions member Alban Maginness MLA has questioned Sinn Fein’s commitment to representing the people of the North in Europe when their full member of the Committee has resigned and the alternate member has not attended a single meeting. Responding to a written answer received from the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister Mr Maginness stated:
“The Committee of the Regions carries out crucial work providing local and regional authorities with a voice at the heart of the European Union. It is designed to bring the European Union closer to the people it represents. Its membership is comprised of locally elected representatives from these areas and it provides a forum for focused, strategic work, policy development and shared initiatives.

As a region Northern Ireland is entitled to two full members on the committee. The Committee’s current mandate began in February 2006 and Edwin Poots and Conor Murphy were appointed by the Government as the North’s representatives. Their record of attendance, particularly Conor Murphy’s attendance, has been appalling. Out of a possible 22 meetings open to him to attend he managed to make it to only one. Indeed, his resignation from the committee in March was an opportunity for Sinn Fein to reprioritise Europe and give this committee the attention and respect it deserves. They are yet to announce a replacement for him.

As well as full membership rights Northern Ireland is also entitled to two ‘alternate’ members who may attend the Committee of the Regions plenary when their full member is not in attendance. Sinn Fein’s alternate member is Councillor Bernice Swift. Councillor Swift was suspended from Sinn Fein since October 2007 due to her stance on that party’s policy with regard to policing. She has not attended a single committee meeting. Sinn Fein have abdicated their responsibility with regard to this committee and with regard to representing the people of the North in Europe.

It has long been clear that Sinn Fein are an anti European party but they received a mandate which they are now abusing. As a positively pro European Party the SDLP has always played a full part in the life of the EU and used its influence there for the good of the people of Northern Ireland. Sinn Fein now needs to explain why they are now not represented on this committee and why they have taken no steps to address the situation. It is a failure on an organisational and political level that they cannot ignore.”

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