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Publication Daily Mirror
Date Monday 1st February 2010
THIS weekend will mark 1,000 days of this period of devolution.
The previous 999 have left people feeling justifiably frustrated, confused, and bewildered. Over the past week politics in the North was brought back to the brink.
It should never have reached this place and politics does not have to be this way.
All parties say they want devolved government and want it to work better. Given SF and the DUP's poor record in government people are entitled to ask is the best our institutions can do?
The SDLP share the concerns of the community, we too worry about jobs, neighbourhood safety and our children's future.
We too are apprehensive about the implication of future spending cuts that will be imposed after the Westminster election from whoever is in government.
That is real politics and that is what the SDLP want to address - we want to see a new budget to get us through the financial crisis.
We want to protect frontline services and we want to bring forward are clear plans to solve the crisis in education.
Now as we try to get over this latest impasse the SDLP are keen to get down to business and ensure there are no more coming down the track.
That is why we will drive forward our ambitious agenda for Ireland 's future in the coming weeks and months, at local councils, in the Assembly and Westminster . During the talks at Hillsborough the SDLP expressed our frustration at how things have been working.
The Good Friday Agreement is about parties having entitlements according to their electoral strength. It is about making sure we can all work together.
The SDLP is determined to keep working in this spirit and challenge others to step up to the mark.
Given the recent course of events if any party had a reason to be frustrated and if any party had the right to walk away and feel betrayed it was the SDLP.
It is the SDLP and Nationalism who are being denied their rightful place in government but we kept our eye on the ball and the bigger public interest.
We remained firm on the issue of parades which saw Sinn Fein back peddle on their previous positions.
It was they who allowed the DUP to position themselves that they thought they could get the Parades Commission on the plate.
Parties and politicians will not be judged on the outcome of this particular episode but in the days and weeks ahead on how devolution can deliver on the economy, education and a shared future.
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