News that Executive will meet is a positive step forward - Kennedy

During a debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly, Deputy Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party Danny Kennedy welcomed the news that the Executive would meet following on from a UUP motion which had urged them to do so.

Speaking in the Chamber the UUP MLA said that it was astonishing to note that the DUP-Sinn Fein differences over Policing and Justice seemed to be the sole issue which prevented the Executive from meeting as no other issues were mentioned in the documents released to the public by OFMdFM.

Questioning this he asked: "Why wasn't this issue sorted out between the DUP and Sinn Fein at their own separate meetings; which would have allowed the Executive to meet and agree a common approach to address the impact of the worst economic downturn since the 1920s? I mean you must ask - what were the last 152 days actually about"

He also raised the other issues which have proved somewhat controversial within the Executive: "There has been no mention of education, the Irish Language Act, the continued debacle over the Maze and the National stadium. Does that mean that in the future we could once again face a deadlock at Executive level"

"Perhaps we are to conclude that the DUP and Sinn Fein have another series of side deals? I mean where is the guarantee that the people of Northern Ireland can expect uninterrupted government between now and 2011"

"Although the Executive meeting is a step forward - It should also be noted that Northern Ireland plc can never get the last 152 days back. When the rest of the world reacted to the current global economic crisis Government in Northern Ireland has been forced to stand still. Time will tell whether our inability to react has cost us dearly."

"In recent days it has been argued that the United Kingdom is one of the worst placed major economic powers to deal with this crisis, due to our unprecedented levels of debt. I would argue that Northern Ireland, due to the inability of Sinn Fein and the DUP to work together, is now the region within the United Kingdom that has made the least preparation to deal with this recession. It is therefore imperative that now that this impasse has been overcome both Sinn Fein and the DUP ensure that this situation never happens again. I support the motion."