Put your money where your mouth is on free personal care - Alliance

2.44.09pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 25th May 2007

Alliance Party Health Spokesperson Kieran McCarthy MLA

Alliance Party Health Spokesperson Kieran McCarthy MLA has demanded that the Executive parties put their money where their mouth is on free personal care for older people. In 2002 Kieran McCarthy put an amendment to the Assembly that gave the DUP, Sinn Fein SDLP and Ulster Unionists the chance to implement free personal care but they all voted against it - Only Alliance voted for it. A motion on free personal care will be debated in the Assembly on Tuesday.

The Strangford MLA said: "The Executive parties must put their money where their mouth is on free personal care.

"They all pledged to introduce it during the election campaign - I hope they are not planning go back on their promises.

"On the day that the free nursing care bill was being debated in the Assembly in 2002, I put in an amendment calling for free personal care to be included in the bill. The Ulster Unionists, SDLP, DUP and Sinn Fein all voted against it. Alliance was the only party to vote for it.

"Alliance has been the only consistent and strong campaigners for free personal care for older people. The four tribal parties were against it in 2002, I look forward to seeing whether their stance has changed next week.

"Its time that the tribal Executive parties delivered for local people - everyone is sick of missed opportunities and broken promises. We need less talk and more action on this important issue."

ENDS