Murphy should resign - TUV
29 December 2010
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister:-
“If the present shambolic response to the water crisis had occurred under Direct Rule both Sinn Fein and the DUP would have been jumping up and down in furious condemnation, with no adjective strong enough to lambast those in charge. But the mismanagement which for days past, and for days to come, is inflicting hardship right across the Province is firmly stamped “Made in Stormont”.
“It was self-evident that the hard frost would be followed by a huge thaw, yet Minister Murphy failed to ensure NIW would have enough staff available to even answer the phones. This elementary failure exposes him as a Minister not up to the job. Making adequate preparation for foreseeable events is basic to good government. Yet, he will pay no price for his incompetence, because in Northern Ireland we do not have an accountable democracy, but rule by a cabal of incompetents.
“In Scotland the Transport Minister paid with his job for failing to adequately prepare for the snow, but here, alas, because of the iniquity of mandatory coalition, government ministries are held as party fiefdoms immune from the normal rules of democracy. Without even an Opposition allowed in Stormont, those who have delivered bad government will carry on unaffected, safe in the cocoon that is mandatory coalition.
“Murphy’s handling of NI Water has been abysmal. First, in his eagerness to get his own placemen in position, he bungled in to sack directors for following the auditing pattern of DRD, and now when NI Water so lamentably fails under his placemen the best he can do is wheel out McGuinness to bolster him in his incompetence. Meanwhile, households, farms and businesses across the Province suffer for his failure to provide the basic service of water.
“The fate of our basic infrastructure under Sinn Fein/DUP rule is appalling. DETI under DUP control has delivered control of our electricity to the bankrupt Dublin Government and our water infrastructure under Sinn Fein management has delivered drought in the middle of winter! If this is devolution working, I wouldn’t like to see what they would call failure.
“At least, come May 2011 ordinary voters will have an opportunity to pass their verdict on the Jokes on the Hill.”
