H&W "an integral part of the economic and cultural fabric of Belfast" - Lesley Veronica

The announcement today that Harland and Wolff is to go into administration for the second time in five years is a real blow to the local economy for Northern Ireland.

Green Party deputy leader Lesley Veronica said "Harland and Wolff is an integral part of the economic and cultural fabric of Belfast and it cannot be underestimated how devastating further reductions in operations will be for local workers and their families."

"This has a huge impact moving forward for the ability of the region to provide vital shipbuilding and renewable services."

"While the news that a number of companies have shown interest in the acquisition of the company there are significant concerns about what this might mean for the future of the business and for the workforce here in Northern Ireland."

"A deal should be announced towards the end of October, however it is imperative that the UK government should step in now to do all that it can to save a company which has played such a definitive role in the NI economy and symbolises so much to so many."

Deputy leader attends NIHRC annual report launch

Green Party express disappointment in Executive Programme for Government

Deputy Leader of the Green Party in Northern Ireland, Lesley Veronica has expressed disappointment and frustration at the Executive’s draft Programme for Government.

Lesley said “Despite hundreds of hours of meetings with senior civil servants prior to the Assembly returning and 215 days to develop a distinct and clear plan, this document is deeply disappointing. It provides limited clear actions on what this Executive will do over the next few years to address the many crises that we face in Northern Ireland. There are vague promises, lots of buzz words and it seems the Executive, which is a master at symbolism and photo-opportunities, seems to have replicated that in this vague draft programme for government. Coupled with a weak legislative schedule, this is deeply disappointing."

Mrs Veronica continued “Through their inaction, poor policy decisions and addiction to instability these parties have created numerous crises in Northern Ireland. Over 45,000 people are on a housing waiting list. 1 in 4 people here are on a health and social care waiting list. Lough Neagh is dying before our eyes and poverty, inequality, intolerance and paramilitarism continue to plague our communities."

"While Tory austerity plays a role, these crises have been created or made worse by these 5 parties in their 26 years of on and off again government.
The Green Party looks forward to responding and we hope civil society will respond robustly to urge much more detailed ambition."

Green Deputy Leader welcomes court ruling on no gas caverns campaign

A huge victory today for the dedicated team at No Gas Caverns and Friends of the Earth as the Court of Appeal rules that DAERA made an irrational decision when allowing plans for the construction of environmentally damaging storage caverns under Larne Lough.

The plans would have seen the construction of seven skyscraper sized caverns under Larne Lough. These were to be carved out of salt layers under the lough which would have resulted in the creation of a ‘dead zone’ due to the excavation process. Priority species, which are protected under legislation, including harbour porpoise and skate can be found within 100 meters of the discharge point. The resulting hyper salination of the water in the Lough would have resulted in environmental damage for several kilometres and would cause major environmental destruction to the area.

Green Party Deputy Leader Lesley Veronica said "Today’s ruling has been five years in the making. It is no underestimation to say that the core of this has been a group of concerned Islandmagee citizens’ who have worked tirelessly to see the original permission overturned."

"No Gas Caverns have also acknowledged the importance of the support they received from groups such as RSPB, Ulster Wildlife, Wild Justice, Uplift UK, Law for Change, The PILS project and of course Friends of the Earth, Northern Ireland."

"On the same day when the EU passed the Nature Restoration Law this ruling establishes guidelines for future decisions and makes it clear that the courts are prepared to make sure that the Executive acts within the law."

"The Green Party want to extend a huge congratulations and sincere thanks to all of those who have worked so hard for both of these significant environmental victories and hope that this is the start of many more to come."

Green Party Deputy Leader responds to the final days of the covid inquiry

The deputy Leader of the Green Party Northern Ireland has responded to the final days of the covid inquiry which has been sitting for the past three weeks. Lesley Veronica said “Brenda Campbell KC spoke for all of us in her robust attack on the failings at Stormont in the handling of the Covid crisis here in Northern Ireland. However, I would go further and state unequivocally that those failings have continued to have dire consequences for each and every citizen as evidenced by the state of our NHS which is on its knees and is categorically worse than any other part of the UK.”

“Ms Campbell presented a candid reminder of the human impact a failure of governance brings. Following so many similar instances of government incompetence such as RHI and NAMA we see yet again that the five-party executive is not only unable to cope with crises but has a tendency to react to the investigations as if they are ‘above the rules’. We would strongly remind all parties that accountability is a key ingredient of any democracy and how public money is spent is a matter for concern for us all as is the adherence to the law.”

"For over 100 days the Assembly has been back in session and yet we have no budget, no Programme for Government and no legislative schedule, but plenty of grandstanding and uncosted motions. This doesn’t cut it, we have a crisis in the NHS, a mental health crisis and a cost of living crisis not to mention an ongoing and emerging climate emergency to deal with. We need government not debate, action not empty words and parties that can deliver on what they promise."

Green Party Deputy Leader, Lesley Veronica welcomes release of the Kenova report

Lesley Veronica said “The depth and detail of this report is to be applauded as is the professionalism of the entire operation under the auspices of Jon Boutcher. It is however disappointing that it appears that yet again no one is being held to account for the preventable murders which this whole sorry and despicable story reveals. No consequences for the state for aiding and abetting a leading member of the IRA Security Unit and none for those who carried out the torture and murder of those suspected of being informers. All under the control of a British agent, himself a senior member of the IRA. If it was a spy story you wouldn’t believe it but in the Dirty War of the Northern Ireland conflict this rings all too true.”

“All too often we focus on the perpetrators, in this case the British state acting hand in hand with some of the most senior members of the IRA in the apparent interest of intelligence gathering. We think of those families who not only lost loved ones but had to live with the lasting stigma of being labelled ‘touts’ with the consequences that carried for years to come. The continued adherence to the policy of Neither Confirm Nor Deny means that names cannot be cleared and of course that the identity of the notorious ‘Stakeknife’ still remains elusive.”

“It is proper to acknowledge the failings of the state and to illustrate the atrocities carried out by the IRA Security Unit. However, the Green Party of Northern Ireland would like to focus instead on all the victims who today have come a bit closer to achieving truth but no closer to getting justice.”

Green Party deputy leader, Lesley Veronica has spoken out against the cuts to free, centralised counselling for children in NI who have been victims of sexual abuse.

The deputy leader of the Green Party of Northern Ireland has expressed deep concern at news today that Nexus, Northern Ireland’s leading organisation providing support to young people impacted by sexual abuse can no longer offer support to 4–7-year olds and have had to pause support for over 60 children aged 8 -16.

“ This news is utterly deplorable. Yet again our children and young people are being let down. Northern Ireland has never had proper access to centralised, government funded support however until now organisations like Nexus have been able to fill that gap. The provision of centralised support is long overdue and the current situation serves to highlight this major shortfall in children’s services.”

Lesley Veronica continues to say “the failure to invest in these services is a false economy. Like many of the other cuts in public services we know that a failure to invest in support services results in other parts of the system picking up the bill further down the line and at a much bigger cost. Trauma which has not been processed leads to many problems in adolescence and beyond including, suicide, self-harm and addiction. In a very real sense both the health service and the justice system will end up picking up a heftier bill in the long term if these services are not provided.”

The Green Party of Northern Ireland joins with Joanne Barnes, CEO of NEXUS in calling for the prioritisation of specialist funding for children who have experienced sexual abuse and reiterates our commitment to fully support the provision of services for all of those who have suffered abuse.

Green Party deputy leader, Lesley Veronica has spoken out against the so-called Legacy Bill passed today at Westminster.

Reacting to the passing of the Legacy Bill at Westminster Lesley Said "The passing of this bill is a clear indication of the moral turpitude of the current UK Government

Rejected by all of NI’s political party's, victims’ groups, human rights groups and the Irish government and strongly resisted in the Lords.

The disregard for the impact this will have on survivors of the conflict is staggering. It has granted an effective amnesty to both British state forces and paramilitaries for atrocities committed during the conflict.

Today, I think of all those who have already been waiting too long for inquests into the deaths of their loved ones and can only imagine their disappointment and pain at being let down again.

For four years I sat with members of the Forum for the Commission for Victims and Survivors NI and it was a privilege. To be among people who had suffered so much and whose only desire was to prevent future conflict by facing the past.

The government could learn a few lessons from them, not least in humility.

This is a dark day for British democracy and for peace building in NI. You do not deal with legacy issues by sweeping them under the carpet. It is only by shining a light into our darkest corners that we will make a firm foundation for peace. This bill actively prevents that from happening.

So now we potentially face a two-tier justice system with troubles victims yet again at the bottom of the pile, while protagonists get state protection. The UK further damages its international reputation with the passage of this legislation and I have no doubt it will face many legal challenges in the days and months ahead.

For now, however the Green Party are thinking primarily for all of those for whom justice has been denied for too long and for whom this news today will be yet another burden to bear."