SDLP Leader Alasdair McDonnell said the focus in 2013 must
be on building a society based on respect, reconciliation, equality and
prosperity for everyone. It's time, he said, to move beyond managing the
conflict here to transforming it.
Wed 2nd January
"The job of Government is to create the best conditions
for economic growth that creates jobs and benefits all in our society. The SDLP
is playing its fullpart in this through its Ministry, and its proactive role in
the Assembly", Dr. McDonnell said.
"Government focus should also be on, tackling the
strangling effect of over regulation on small business, more effective
targeting of investment and support to local businesses, ensuring we have an
education system which provides our young people with the skills to meet the
needs of emerging highly paid industries, a health care system which meets all
our needs and a welfare system which protects the most vulnerable in our
society. Corporation Tax and other economic controls must be sought to ensure
that we're able to make ourselves as competitive as possible in the eyes of
investors.
"The recent scenes witnessed in Belfast and across
Northern Ireland, the attack on life, democracy, property and the economy which
closed the curtains on 2012 cannot be justified and must never be repeated.
"People have a right to protest and the SDLP will
always defend the right to peaceful protest but what we witnessed in the last
40 days were scenes reminiscent of the worst in the last 40 years. We witnessed
murder attempts on police officers, death threats issued to elected
representatives, riots, attacks on our democratic institutions, attacks on
property and illegal road blocks which caused untold damage to local businesses
and severe disruption to people trying to go about their daily lives.
"We refused to let the violent and murderous actions of
small minorities derail us in the past and we will remain as resolute in 2013
and beyond.
"What the dark days of 2012 have shown us however,
whether it was the events over parading in North Belfast, the murder of David
Black, murder attempts and threats to life, illegal and violent protests, is
that sectarianism and hatred continues to poison our society and damage our
economy around the world.
"We have come a long way but there is still so much to
do. In our divided society, symbols, emblems and issues of identity will remain
contentious, ripe for provocation and with the potential to erupt into violent
scenes which are beamed around the world unless they are approached from a
position of mutual respect and parity of esteem.
"2013 must demonstrate that politics delivers and that
violence or the threat of violence will achieve nothing.
"We must demonstrate in every home that devolution
delivers for peoples’ needs and people in need, not presents merely a
government of self congratulation and the politics of self praise"
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