The announcement of the Programme for Government has been delayed after an Executive meeting scheduled for Wednesday morning was postponed.
Alliance MLA and Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir expressed concern that he would not be able to see the final version of the document before the meeting today.
He told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster that the situation had become a “storm in a teacup.”
“The only ask from myself – and I think it’s a perfectly reasonable ask – is that the finalised document would be received before the meeting so we could consider it,” he added.
He confirmed that the final document was circulated to ministers on Friday, with feedback being requested by Tuesday, but he has not seen the document since the feedback was submitted.
The Executive will meet on Thursday and Muir said he is “confident” that the Programme for Government will be agreed.
Speaking on X, he said: “Absolutely farcical that after more than a year, a meeting to finalise the draft Programme for Government has been… postponed.”
“Particularly absurd the delay is Alliance. The third leg in the Executive is now reinforcing rather than reforming SF-DUP dysfunction,” he added.
Absolutely farcical that after more than a year, a meeting to finalise the draft Programme for Government has been… postponed.
— Matthew O'Toole (@MatthewOToole2) February 26, 2025
Particularly absurd the delay is Alliance. The third leg in the Executive is now reinforcing rather than reforming SF-DUP dysfunction.
Shambolic.
Robin Swann, Ulster Unionist MP for South Antrim, raised the issue in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Hilary Benn said, “I hope very much that the Programme for Government will be agreed as soon as possible. It is the responsibility for the Northern Ireland Executive.”
He also confirmed that “a number” of bids have been submitted for the transformation fund of £245m that is currently unallocated. He says he will announce the results of the bid with the Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald “soon.”
All Parties in Northern Ireland are calling for transformation of public services, as is the Secretary of State and his team, while the transformation fund of £245m is unallocated – time to get on with it? pic.twitter.com/k4JuOrKdbk
— Robin Swann MP (@RobinSwann_MP) February 26, 2025
Leader of the Green Party NI, Mal O’Hara, said on X: “The Executive returned on 3rd Feb 2024. Despite hundreds of hours meeting prior to their return to identify priorities on day 387 we still don’t have a programme for government.”
