Sound and fury signifying nothing
28 September 2009
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister
“Some fine words from Nigel Dodds recently about cutting out needless spending on the Belfast Agreement Quangos and institutions. But, is this the same DUP which while in control of the Finance Department has yet to cut one penny from the north/south bodies? On the contrary, under DUP stewardship the budgets of the north/south bodies were increased from £119m in 2007 to £130m in 2008! Indeed, their Corporate plans 2008-10 were approved without so much as requiring a single efficiency saving.
“As for the necessary scrapping of the wasteful Quangos (2 of which are outside devolved control) and cutting back on departments and MLAs – all very desirable – why, if the DUP cares about these matters did it waste the opportunity and leverage at St Andrews by failing to insist on such changes. Instead, as will be recalled, some instead notoriously wasted the leverage on pet projects.
“So wakening up to these issues now is all very well and good, but let it never be forgotten that this is the system which Mr Dodds and his party endorsed when they bought into accepting the Belfast Agreement. Now, courtesy of the republican veto and hoisted on that petard, they are helpless to force the change so desperately needed. Words are cheap, but the action of bringing down the failed Belfast Agreement structures, which would force change, would require more courage than the DUP any longer possesses.”
