:: press release ::

October 1, 2008

ROSS WELCOMES PRESCRIPTIONS ANNOUNCEMENT 

Democratic Unionist MLA Alastair Ross has welcomed the announcement that prescription charges are to be phased out in Northern Ireland, and said that the budget allocation from the former Finance Minister Peter Robinson has made this good news story possible.  

The East Antrim representative said it was extremely good news and a testimony to the sound financial planning that went into the overall production of the Northern Ireland budget.   

Commenting this afternoon from Parliament Buildings, Mr Ross said,  

“People across the Province will be delighted by the announcement that prescription charges are to be phased out over time.  This proves that the devolved institutions can deliver for the people of Northern Ireland.  

It is clear that the Minister for Health is in a position to make such a positive announcement because of the meticulous planning that went in to producing the budget last year from the DUP Minister.  

Health received the biggest single allocation of all departments in the last budget, amounting to almost half of all available resources during the budget period. It was very clear at that time the high priority that the now First Minister Peter Robinson MP placed on health issues.  

The focus will now be on Sinn Fein to see if they continue to block progress on a number of issues by refusing to attend meetings of the Northern Ireland Executive.”