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MAGINNESS - PARADE AND PROTEST LEAVES BAD POLITICAL AFTER
TASTE SDLP North Belfast Assembly Member Alban Maginness MLA has said the events leading up and after today’s parade and protest in Belfast has seen the reactivation of old political divisions. Mr Maginness said he was heartened that the events passed off peacefully but expressed his concern that they have detracted from the real problems at the heart of government, namely the economic downturn and the lack of Executive meetings. He said: “It will come as a great relief that this morning’s parade and protest has thus far passed off without serious incident. “However, the SDLP firmly believe the events leading up to today have served as a distraction from the vacuum at the heart of government in Northern Ireland. "Instead of hearing about an Executive plan to deal with the economic downturn, the crisis in the construction sector and the threat of fuel poverty, we have heard nothing but a series of headlines about parades and protests and the prospect of violence returning to our streets. “For the past week the SDLP has called on those involved to show restraint and responsibility. “Yet, the ill-judged actions and words of Sinn Fein have served only to mobilise Unionism and prove that they have failed to complete the move from a party of protest to a party of government. “Unfortunately we have seen the reactivation of old divisions which will have political consequences, in particular poisoning the political atmosphere. “We have seen the re-introduction of street politics and I have said before politics should be conducted inside City Hall not outside. “Now we need to see conflict resolution not conflict substitution.” ENDS
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