Ulster Unionist MLA Diana Armstrong has condemned Sinn Fein controlled priorities at Fermanagh and Omagh District Council after more details emerged on its newly established and overtly political formal ‘Irish Unity Working Group’.  The Council has already allocated up to £20,000 to be spent specifically on research documents for the group before the end of the financial year in March.

The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said:

“This is a clear abuse of council powers and a scandalous misuse of hard earned ratepayers’ money, particularly after Sinn Féin councillors blocked an earlier Ulster Unionist proposal that would have instead directed the money to deliver increased grant funding for local community organisations.

“To put it simply: this is not neutral ‘research’ or harmless civic engagement by Fermanagh and Omagh Council. The creation of an official ‘Irish Unity Working Group,’ combined with public lectures and political discussions on how to ‘prepare’ for a united Ireland, effectively amounts to ratepayers’ money being used to promote a single constitutional outcome.”

“At a time when families are struggling and community groups are being told there is no money available, Sinn Fein have chosen to spend tens of thousands of pounds advancing a political project the council has no business running. Constitutional matters are explicitly reserved and are not the role of district councils, yet Sinn Fein have pressed ahead regardless.

“Many ratepayers across the district do not support Irish unity. They should not be forced to pay for activities they quite reasonably see as political, divisive and outside the law. Councils are expected to be politically impartial - Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has completely abandoned that principle. I'm also very concerned that senior officers within the Council, who again are meant to be entirely impartial, are simply sitting back and allowing this overtly nationalist agenda to be advanced. 

“Every pound spent on this working group is a pound not delivering core Council services, supporting local facilities, or helping voluntary groups survive.

“This should not be happening, it should not be funded, and it should not be tolerated. My Party colleagues on the Council have already written directly to the Communities Minister to highlight the issue. We are not going to let this issue rest.”