12 May 2025

SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA has accused the deputy First Minister of overseeing a culture of inaction at the Executive while distracting the public with constant rows over cultural issues amounting to “one long Old Firm game”.

He challenged deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly on the issue in the Assembly on Monday and asked her whether the public was getting value for money from the First and deputy First Minister, who have spent tens of thousands of pounds on international travel but have not made a substantive announcement in two months.

South Belfast MLA Mr O’Toole said:

“It is galling for citizens who were promised action on our collapsing public services, stubborn poverty and environmental catastrophe, are instead being fed a constant diet of rows over statues, signs and band parades. It is part of a clear strategy of distraction from Executive inaction.

“In particular, what are young people who leave in droves every year to make of a politics of a never-ending Old Firm game rather than meaningful focus on improving people’s lives.

“I put this directly to the deputy First Minister in the Assembly today and pointed out that her department had failed to make a single substantive announcement in more than two months. All this while drawing large salaries and spending tens of thousands of pounds on oversea travel.

“It suits some Executive parties to use contentious cultural issues to drive attention away from the problems dominating people’s lives. It is deeply regrettable that nearly three decades on from the Good Friday Agreement politics in this place still feels more like one long Old Firm game and there is little appetite from the Executive to do anything about it.”