Alex Maskey welcomes progress on phasing out dual mandates

Alex Maskey MLA

SINN FÉIN MLA and spokesperson on the Review of Public Administration Alex Maskey has welcomed Tuesday evening’s progress on the Bill from Dawn Purvis to bring an end to dual mandates.

Speaking from the Assembly, Alex said:

Sinn Féin believes it is vitally important to bring this process to an end in a speedy and efficient fashion.

Once again, the DUP showed either their inability or unwillingness to end dual mandates despite their promises to the public prior to the last election.

In recent days the DUP party leader has been advocating a series of measures, as he says, designed to cut back waste and save money for the public purse. This evening in the chamber, though, when they have the opportunity to make their own contribution they still want to allow their MLAs to retain their council seats until the year 2014.

So either the DUP can’t deliver their commitment or they won’t.

They now need to explain why they were the only party in the Assembly to oppose this Bill.