27 February 2025 

SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA has said the Executive’s Programme for Government (PfG) will be judged on whether it will improve the lives and prospects of ordinary people.

He was speaking after the PfG was formally signed-off, though not published for the public to scrutinise – which he called out as yet another missed opportunity to demonstrate the public that the Executive is committed to delivering for people.

South Belfast MLA Mr O’Toole said:

“It is firstly an absurd situation for Executive ministers to be giving press conferences asking for praise without actually publishing a PfG document. This is supposed to be a plan for government, not an Oscar acceptance speech.

“Over a decade on from our last Programme for Government, three years from the last Assembly election and over a year since Stormont’s return Executive Ministers have finally agreed to a PfG. The need for a clear plan has never been more urgent, with public services – especially the NHS – under severe pressure and the public losing trust in the ability of the Executive to act.

“When the draft PfG was published the SDLP Opposition made our concerns clear – we felt it was full of already promised policies, with very little in the way of targets or timelines for introducing them that will show the public how these plans connect with their lives. If the Executive has been more specific in its final document, then we welcome that – and it highlights the worth of a robust and constructive opposition.

“But we will judge the Executive on two things: first, the actual targets and priorities that are set and the delivery of those targets. People in Northern Ireland, whether they are waiting for a consultant appointment or need support with the cost of childcare or any of the other pressing challenges, deserve real delivery and the Opposition will be speaking for them.”