Public Services Thrown Into Financial Uncertainty – Green Party

Northern Ireland's public services have been thrown into financial uncertainty with the collapse of the Executive, Green Party NI Leader Clare Bailey has said.

The South Belfast MLA said: "For the past two years, the five-party Executive system has demonstrated its inability to deal with crisis. The pandemic has also exposed the need for reform of our health services, something which should now be a priority for Ministers.

"Almost half a million people in Northern Ireland are now on surgery waiting lists, or waiting for their first appointment with a consultant. Our waiting lists are the worst in the UK, and addressing this should be Ministers' focus.

"However, the collapse of the Executive means that the planned three-year budget will not now go ahead, and our public services will not get the long-term financial certainty they desperately need.

"There is also £300m of extra funding which cannot be allocated due to the Executive collapse. It's unacceptable that whilst people struggle to afford heating their homes and feeding their families, Stormont is sitting on hundreds of millions which could be used to alleviate those financial pressures.

"It's time for politicians to focus on securing long-term financial stability for our public services, and on alleviating poverty in Northern Ireland."

Alliance Call For Clearer Guidance For Clinically Vulnerable

Clearer guidance is required for clinically extremely vulnerable people about how to assess daily risk, after the remaining Covid-19 restrictions were changed to guidance, Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw has said.

She continued: "Many will have responded to this announcement with great relief, but for the group who were shielding it will have been met in many cases with further uncertainty and even fear," said Ms Bradshaw.

"It should be emphasised this announcement was made possible by medical advice emerging from the much lower risk caused by the Omicron variant, which includes a lower risk to the clinically extremely vulnerable group.

"Nevertheless, that group would surely benefit from enhanced guidance on how to assess the current risk in the context restrictions in shops and hospitality have now been lifted. They are raising a lot of questions about a change which will have a significant change on behaviour and those need an answer.

"It should also be emphasised the legal requirement to self-isolate in the event of a positive test for the virus remains in place. This is there predominantly to protect those who are vulnerable to the virus."

SF Express Solidarity With Striking University Staff

Sinn Féin MLA John O'Dowd has expressed his solidarity with the Universities and Colleges Union on its decision to take strike action over reductions to their pensions.

The party's spokesperson on Higher and Further Education said: "I want to express support and solidarity with the University Lecturers and workers who have taken strike action in response to reductions to their pension entitlements.

"It's shocking to hear claims that highly skilled academics are having to go on the picket line to get a fair pension and increases that were promised to them.

"These academics are leading the way on research and teaching - they must be valued and treated fairly.

"I hope that this issue can be resolved so that staff are treated fairly, and teaching can resume."