Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

A year on, the New Decade, New Approach deal speaks volumes about what was originally in it. Other Deputies have referred to the fact that many of the proposals in the deal have been aspirational without any effort to include proper figures for spending, giving a real cause for concern.

Behind the headlines, however, repeated references to the need for rationalisation and efficiency reviews, which is political speak for austerity and job losses, proposals to deal with a further reform of the Northern Ireland Civil Service and the rationalisation of what they call "arm’s length bodies" are a thinly veiled confirmation that the Executive and the Assembly intend to continue with their long-running practice of gutting decently-paid jobs in the public sector. What one year on tells us more than anything else is how partition has served this entire country so poorly, particularly given that was the year of Covid-19. North and South of the Border, we saw a lack of co-operation and collaboration, and indeed, a lack of dealing with health in a unified all-island way. I am not convinced enough was done by any member of Government or any member of the major parties in Stormont to really push for an all-island strategy. As I said, partition has served us poorly since James Connolly predicted it would create "a carnival of reaction". It has, however, served us most poorly indeed over the last year. We need to get over ourselves and look to creating that all-island health service which is so urgently needed.

I note too with a sense of incredulity, to be honest, that the cash for ash scandal, that is, the renewable heat incentive scandal that collapsed Stormont the last time around, was to be dealt with by the establishment of a committee which would look into changes that would be needed as result. However, none other than the very person who was at the helm of that debacle is involved in establishing that committee and yet, we were promised there would be no return to thestatus quo.

There are some welcome suggestions on the Irish language. I believe, however, many activists in the Irish language will be very disappointed with the overall outcome of it. I want to finish by saying that People Before Profit, as the only socialist presence in the Assembly, will do all we can to hold the Executive to account and learn the lesson that real change comes from below, as per the nurses and health workers.

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