The current impasse in Assembly politics puts in sharp focus the inability of the old sectarian parties to work in co-operation for the betterment of Northern Ireland. The old parties are caught up in their old style politics and it only serves to illustrate the importance of a political party like the Green Party.  The Green Party is offering the new Northern Ireland a new style of politics.  

If the present deadlock between the Executive parties is not broken, then there is a serious danger we will slip back into conflict. While the main parties bitterly argue about policing we in the Green Party are fighting for energy independent for Northern Ireland in the form of renewables. Why? Because the people of Northern Ireland are worried about how they will heat their homes this winter.

While the old parties argue about who was right and who was wrong during the Troubles, we are promoting locally produced food. Why? Because the people are worried about feeding their families. 

While the old parties are refusing to sit down together and talk about the basic needs of our community, we are calling for flood maps and a real effort to combat climate change.  Why? Because the people of Northern Ireland are worried about their homes being reclaimed or flooded. The Green Party is relevant to today and increasingly the old parties look relevant only to yesterday.

In recent months much of the good will and optimism generated by the setting up of the power sharing Executive has been lost and the public has become cynical and disillusioned with politics. Instead of consensus government, we see the old parties revert to partisan policies, taking direction from their most extreme back-woods-men. 

It is clear that since the Dromore by-election the DUP has relapsed into its old “not an inch” philosophy and Sinn Fein is responding to pressure from extreme Republicans.  Compromise, which is essential if power-sharing is going to work, has become a dirty word. 

This is not what the people of Northern Ireland voted for - this is not what the people of Northern Ireland need.

The Executive cannot operate under such conditions and the serious and growing problems facing the community such as, fuel poverty, the credit crunch, flooding, the cost of food, job losses, and mortgage defaults are not being dealt with.   

The present deadlock is the road to disaster.

If we are to have a future free of sectarian conflict – compromise and co-operation must take the place of confrontation and threats. And the needs of the back-woods-men must take second place to the needs of the people.

The people voted for peace, they voted for co-operation, they voted for control over their political future and it is the duty of the political parties to deliver.  If the old parties can’t then the Green Party will.