As Northern Ireland politics heads for the freezer, yet again, this time courtesy of the DUP, one wonders what is next? Liz Truss will no doubt be beavering away drafting her bill to ‘disapply’ the NI Protocol – just not too soon. For those with long memories, 50 years ago Ted Heath, prompted by a legal challenge by John Hume, passed a law within 24 hours to make it legal for the army to arrest people, so this delay is by choice. Johnson’s gentle stroll through his parliamentary timetable clearly shows his priorities - or in the case of the protocol, Northern Ireland and its citizenry, that they are non-existent. Reflecting back to autumn 2019 when public opinion forced Sinn Féin and the DUP to scurry back to work it seems likely an Executive will be formed, probably with some face-saving, green lane choreography for the DUP six months or more from now.
This then raises questions about the other parties: what will they be doing in the meantime? Sure, it might suit them to blame the DUP but what else could and should they do? As I understand it, we have caretaker ministers so what is to stop the MLAs from the other parties to gather in the Stormont chamber and start talking to an agreed agenda, drafted at a meeting to which all five party leaders are invited? This ‘gathering’ could be regarded as an MLA super advisory committee serving whichever minister wanted to consult, debate, take expert advice and direction on relevant policy. They could debate, draft possible private members’ bills - I would like to see one on whistleblowers, to tease out the issues including best practice exemplars from other jurisdictions. It is unlikely any officious civil servant or security official would dare impede such an activity(ies) especially since access to the Stormont estate lies within Conor Murphy’s remit.
Courtesy of the DUP being already found to be in breach of the law regarding north-south bodies, we know of the judiciary’s reluctance to get drawn into contested politics. More practically, who would try and stop them? The idea that the DUP would successfully challenge the mandate of recently elected MLAs to debate and advise Robin Swann on taking immediate steps to develop a programme to implement Bengoa, which all parties have previously endorsed, would be laughable. For Sinn Féin having campaigned to become largest party, claiming health a priority along with a wish to govern for everyone, they could just announce health will be their first pick, name the proposed minister so they could work with Robin Swann to produce an ‘oven ready’ programme for which civil servants and the entire medical community could plan and prepare. Now that would be a positive step forward for us all, regardless of what the DUP do or do not do.
FRANK HENNESSEY
Belfast BT9
Clarification on GP funding concerns
I refer to the article ‘Patients struggling to get through to Co Antrim GP surgery after funding cut’ (May 20) regarding GP services in the communities of Carnlough and Glenarm.
I want to clarify that the Glens of Antrim Medical Centre continues to receive the same level of funding per patient as every GP practice across Northern Ireland. It would therefore be inaccurate to suggest that this funding has been reduced. In February 2017, Glens of Antrim Medical Centre agreed to accept 1,381 patients from a nearby practice following the retirement of the GP. As a result, they received additional, temporary funding support for three years to assist with the additional workload of adding these patients to their practice. This funding arrangement was never to last indefinitely and was over and above the standard funding which all GP practices receive, based on their patient population.
The Health and Social Care Board agreed to provide this additional temporary support for three years. A fourth year was subsequently provided in light of specific pandemic-related pressures. That final year has now ended. Making the temporary arrangement permanent would actually be unfair on other GP practices and would indeed have to be financed at the expense of other practices.
Today, Glens of Antrim Medical Centre continues to receive the standard GP funding, for their entire patient population including the additional patients. We also continue to fund in full the rent and rates for the branch surgery premises in Carnlough. We have offered the practice additional funding for a nurse to provide treatment room services at the Carnlough premises. This would be of particular benefit to older patients – for instance for blood pressure checks. The available funding would enable up to five half-day treatment room sessions every week at either Carnlough or the main surgery premises at Cushendall.
For those patients who cannot make it into the main or the branch surgery, house calls will still be offered by the practice. I hope this goes some way to addressing the concerns of local residents about the provision of GP services in the area. All rural practices face challenges with patient access and geography. Glens of Antrim Medical Centre provides a vital and much valued service to its patients and we will continue to work closely with them.
DR MARGARET O’BRIEN
Assistant Director of Integrated Care and Head of General Medical Services
DUP arrogance has hastened Irish unity
Northern Ireland was officially established on May 3 1921 – 101 years and two days later, Sinn Féin received the most votes in a local election.
The Protestant sectarian six-county structure was wrecked. The DUP are suffering PTSD and may never recover despite desperate futile attempts by Boris Johnson to assuage their anger and sadness.
A gang of 26 (DUP 25 and TUV 1) or 29 per cent may stifle all political activity at Stormont as they vainly attempt to remove the protocol. This will not happen. Sixty-four MLAs (71 per cent) are willing to work to administer a tolerable level of governance in the face of soaring inflation, economic hardship and declining public services.
Nationalists and republicans should be thankful that nasty English nationalism and DUP arrogance hastened an unstoppable advancement for Irish unity.
BRIAN WILSON
Craigavon, Co Armagh
Cynical action by Sir Jeffrey
One of the greatest privileges a person can have is to represent their people. Having stood at the last local council elections, I know first hand how hard it is to get elected, putting time, money and effort in to seeking a better society for the people you want to represent.
After the assembly election, Jeffrey Donaldson stepped down to co-opt a colleague, then appeared to take a cynical action of getting his party members to sign in with no intention of taking their seats – thus entitling them to wages. This in a time when there is a cost of living crisis, long health waiting lists and a war in Ukraine.
People are now struggling with the financial crisis, with major decisions to make on whether to feed their families, heat their homes or pay the mortgage. These problems are only going to increase in the months ahead. Maybe while we wait for Jeffrey and his team to decide when they go into the executive, they will donate their wages fully to a charity to at least help the most deprived families, in our society to survive.
JIM BOYLAN
Warrenpoint, Co Down
