10 bn hand out "the last thing NI needs" - Parsley

6.05.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 15th Jun 2006

Young Alliance Chair Cllr Ian James Parsley

Young Alliance Chair Cllr Ian James Parsley has condemned politicians seeking yet more financial hand outs for Northern Ireland, and demanded that they get on with the job instead.

The North Down Councillor blasted: "Politicians, themselves eating up public funds, are elected and paid to develop and implement policy. It is the height of irresponsibility for them meekly to seek still more 'hand outs'.

"Instead, they should explain what has happened to the mass of hand outs that have come our way since 1998. £3.5 billion a year extra from the UK Government alone, plus international finance, European peace money, and all kinds of other funds have been ploughed into Northern Ireland - and the result is a society as socially segregated and economically unproductive as ever.

"It is not money we need, it is sense. Sense that recognizes we have to create our own wealth, not sponge off everyone else's; sense that recognizes money needs to be invested, not merely handed out; and sense that demands we save our own money by providing public services such as education and health on an integrated basis, rather than divided along religious lines.

"It is time to stop the pathetic ranting, develop some self confidence, and spend the money we raise ourselves more wisely without waiting for everyone else to solve our problems."

ENDS