McLaughlin appointed Chair of Stormont’s Executive Office Committee

SDLP Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin has expressed her determination to address the neglect of Derry as she takes on her new position as chair of Stormont’s Committee for the Executive Office.

The committee’s role is to hold to account the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister, and their department, The Executive Office.

The role is one of the most senior in the Assembly and McLaughlin takes over as the only SDLP MLA who chairs a Stormont committee.

Said Mrs McLaughlin: “Derry has been left behind for too long. While the two largest parties, the DUP and Sinn Fein, have squabbled and walked out, Derry has been neglected by the joint first ministers.

“My new role is to challenge the joint first ministers both for their responsibility in the dysfunction at Stormont, but also in their failure to deliver for Derry.

“I want justice for Derry when it comes to the creation of jobs, the expansion of our university, the development of our skills, the increase in pay for our workers and in more resources for our city, including for women’s health and mental health.

“It is unacceptable that Derry has been badly neglected for the last 14 years by the joint leadership of Sinn Fein and the DUP.

“I am very pleased that the party and the leader has expressed their confidence in me to take over this important role.”

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