Ógra Shinn Féin call on Angela Smith to Resign

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Tuesday March 21, 2006 16:53 by Shauna - Ógra Shinn Féin

Ógra Shinn Féin has called on the British Minister Angela Smith to resign for failing to budget to meet the education entitlement of children across the five Education and Library Board areas. Pierce Gormley, Ógra Shinn Fein Education spokesperson went on to praise the BELB members lead by Sinn Fein who refused to support further cuts to schools services.

Commenting Pierce Gormley said,

“ Sinn Fein took a policy decision following last year’s Local Government elections that they would not police British Government budget cuts to education and all our activists have stood firm and rallied behind this issue.”

“ Yesterday Sinn Fein was joined by Youth Leaders and young people whose services were to be cut as well as Union representatives on a protest outside the Board Offices to reinforce the need to stand firm against cuts and 20 out of the 25 Board members refused to sign off on the cuts.”

Showing his support, Michael Ferguson MLA said,

“Sinn Fein has lobbied all other parties to adopt a similar position and to refuse to do the British Government’s dirty work on the grounds that it would be irresponsible to cut services to Special Needs Children, patrol crossings to schools, maintenance to buildings, psychology and speech therapy support”

“I want to commend my colleagues from other Parties for standing with us in opposition and also the non elected Board members for demonstrating good common sense. I also want to challenge any attempt to sack the Board members for taking the responsible action they took and instead call for the British Direct Rule Minister to stand down for failing to provide the budget necessary to support education and learning and take this opportunity to call on SEELB members to also refuse to introduce cuts recommended to them.”