THE SDLP MP for Foyle Mark Durkan has criticised the actions today by the First Minister Arlene Foster in vetoing the establishment of an all island forum to consider the implications of an exit from the European Union.
“Arlene Foster can veto her own party’s involvement in the all island forum to consider the implications of Brexit but should not have the ability to veto the concept,” said Mr Durkan.
“If people choose not to go into the forum, that is their choice. That is what happened when the constitutional convention was set up. We were rightly invited and took our place, others didn’t.
“Unionists had their own forum when it suited them so it is wrong now for the First Minister to take away everyone’s choice merely because she would rather not hear what we have to say.
“Through her actions yesterday, Arlene is showing some neck. The Taoiseach should show some backbone.
“By restricting the issues to only being discussed within the existing structures, the First Minister is ensuring she can prevent them from even being raised in the first place.
“Arlene can veto the agenda and any issue on the North South Ministerial Council.
“We would only ever be able to discuss it when she admits there is a problem.
“She will only seek assistance on the issues she wants. Just because she backed an English campaign which boasted of its refusal to listen to experts is no reason why we shouldn’t give due weight and consideration to all of the issues.
“Given these are issues which affect people north and south and the democratically endorsed institutions north and south, parties who want to consider these implications together should be allowed to do so. The work of that forum would not subvert any other institutions or channels– it could complement and inform the work that they do.
“This is a matter for all of the parties and for people beyond parties. Indeed these are wider and deeper issues than the remit of the NSMC.
“We see how important the different dimensions of Europe are to many people, and so it is right that the implications should be discussed in an open and free forum.
We have proved in the past that such forums, such as the National Forum on Europe, the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation and the New Ireland Forum, could do good work and ended up benefiting everyone.
“These spoke for and to everyone on the island of Ireland. This forum should be no different.”
