Dickson Dismayed at Minister's Cavalier Attitude to the Energy Strategy

East Antrim Alliance MLA, Stewart Dickson, has voiced his dismay over the Minister for the Economy’s “dereliction of duty” when it comes to his Department and the important work it is responsible for.

Mr Dickson submitted an Assembly Question to the Minister, Gordon Lyons MLA, asking: “(i) what action has he taken to further progress the Energy Strategy; and (ii) what is his assessment of the impact a vacancy in the ministerial office post 28th October 2022 will have on the Strategy”.

Commenting on the response given by the Minister, Mr Dickson said: “I am absolutely infuriated by the Minister’s shirking of responsibility for the Energy Strategy. He essentially replied that a progress report would be provided in 2023, and that should there be no Minister after the 28th October, senior officials will carry out departmental functions and run public services.

“Well I am sorry, but he was elected to do a job, and cavalierly stating that non-elected public servants will do it in his stead, is simply unacceptable.

“The Energy Strategy should be a top priority for him, and is just one of thousands of reasons why we need active, hard-working MLAs to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland. Not grand-standing, self-serving, reality-deniers, who are committed to frustrating the proper functioning of government and harming Northern Ireland in the process”.