:: press release ::

Tuesday September 09, 2008

ROSS WELCOMES DURKAN COMMENTS ON MANDATORY COALITION 
 

East Antrim MLA Alastair Ross has welcomed comments by SDLP Leader Mark Durkan at the weekend when he stated that mandatory coalition was not the best form of government for Northern Ireland and that the Assembly should introduce more democratic structures that also see the removal of designation voting.  
 

Commenting on the remarks this morning, Mr Ross said,  
 

“I very much welcome the remarks by SDLP leader Mark Durkan over the weekend in which he stated his desire to see the end of mandatory coalition in the Northern Ireland Assembly.  
 

This is something that the DUP has been saying since the obscure structures were dreamt up by Mr Durkan, Mr Empey and others instrumental in the architecture of the failed Belfast Agreement.  
 

Whilst we have already made a number of fundamental changes to the Belfast Agreement, an ending of forced coalition is something that we have actively worked towards as we build upon the fair deal that we promised. A more normalised form of government is essential, but we stated that we were prepared to work the four party mandatory coalition for a limited period as the structures bedded in.  
 

Our Party have promoted a form of voluntary coalition without the designated voting as a way forward, and it is encouraging that the SDLP and UUP seem to belatedly now be on board with our line of thinking.”