MLA believes SDLP and Fianna Fail partnership will ‘work to deliver a new Ireland’

MLA believes SDLP and Fianna Fail partnership will ‘work to deliver a new Ireland’

30 January 2019

SOUTH Down SDLP Assemblyman Colin McGrath has welcomed his party’s new partnership with Fianna Fail.

Following last week’s announcement, he said politics was changing across Ireland and argued that “old responses to new challenges will no longer cut it”. 

Mr McGarth said politics had moved to new ground which was “crying out for politics of creativity and courage to deliver in the current changing context”.

He said the future his party and others envisioned over two decades ago when the SDLP helped deliver the Good Friday Agreement had not come to pass. 

“Division and deadlock have characterised the institutions that were built on the hopes of a shared and prosperous future,” declared Mr McGrath.

“This partnership is the beginning of a process; a process that will work to deliver a new Ireland envisioned by giants such Hume and Lemass.

“Through a programme of joint working groups, research and public engagement, we will work with Fianna Fáil on proposing alternatives for critical issues, such as our stagnant economy, investment along the border regions, better public services and cross-border services post-Brexit.”

Mr McGrath said Brexit would be the first priority, with the SDLP and Fianna Fail continuing to push for the so-called backstop and against the prospect of a return of a hard border.

He continued: “Together, we have once again committed to uniting our people and only through ‘change’ can we reconcile our society and move forward into a brighter future. That future will not be met by an old and narrow vision of Ireland and our people but, rather, a forward facing, robust and dynamic initiative, intent on putting people before politics.”

Mr McGrath said his party had always made “hard choices” for the betterment of everyone, even when those choices cost it dear.

He added: “I would encourage people to be open minded about this process whilst reflecting upon where we are now.

“Twenty years ago, through political partnership that reached beyond our own party, we brought peace to our people. Twenty years on, we are once again determined in our resolve to deliver a type of shared and prosperous Ireland that people here are so deserving of.”