:: press release ::

October 14, 2008

SINN FEIN SHOULD FOCUS ON THE REAL ISSUES 

DUP MLA Alastair Ross has said that Sinn Fein should focus on the issues that matter most to people in Northern Ireland rather than on some narrow agenda of erecting Irish language road signs.  

He made his comments on the BBC Radio Ulster Talkback programme this lunchtime and accused DRD Minister Conor Murphy of trying to create a distraction from the fact that Sinn Fein is refusing to meet with Ministerial colleagues at the Executive.  

Speaking from Parliament Buildings Mr Ross said,  

“It says a lot about where Sinn Fein’s focus is when at a time when people are struggling to pay their bills one of their Ministers is more concerned about erecting Irish language road signs in Northern Ireland.   

People from across Northern Ireland, irrespective of community background, are quite rightly disgusted that Sinn Fein would rather talk about foreign language road signs than get together around the Executive table and set about the task of introducing measures that can make a real difference in peoples lives at this difficult time.  

Today should have been about Finance Minister Nigel Dodds reallocating millions of pounds to various government departments, but unfortunately this could not happen as Sinn Fein are refusing to allow the Executive to meet.  

This is not the time for pursuing narrow party political agendas, it is the time for the Executive to work together and do whatever they can to make a difference. It is a great shame that only the UUP, SDLP and DUP are interested in doing this.”