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Slieve Gullion Councillor Barra Ó Muirí has welcomed the passing of a motion on Newry, Mourne & Down Council calling on the British government to clarify when people will get £600 energy payment. The emergency motion was submitted at the December full council meeting.
The Sinn Féin council group leader said “I welcome support from councillors for my motion calling on the council to write to the British government for immediate clarity on when people will get the £600 energy payment.
“People are struggling to pay their bills and they should be receiving the support that they are entitled to now.
“It’s totally unacceptable that people will not receive this payment before Christmas given that it has already been held up by the DUP’s boycott of government and false promises that it would be paid in November.
“We need an Executive formed now and parties working together to get this £600 energy payment out the door to households now to support people who are struggling. They need help now.”
Mournes Councillor, Cllr Henry Reilly speaking on the motion brought the EU into the conversation "The DUP is actually thinking of the future and thinking of the welfare of every single person who lives in Northern Ireland. Short termism is good pr for Sinn Féin putting down the DUP and trying to create that public perception that the DUP's responsible for all our ills. Clearly it's not but it's the long term strategy of the DUP to deliver for everybody and hopefully the EU will. I know that Simon Coveney and the Taoiseach seem to think that the EU has moved and the UK has moved and there will be an accommodation but unless it really does address the fundamentals that we need the UK single market restored and we need to have common sense in how trade between GB and Northern Ireland is implemented."
Former Finance Minister Conor Murphy also spoke of his concern at the failure of the governments £600 payment to reach here.
Mr Murphy said “It’s deeply concerning and unacceptable that struggling families will not receive the £600 payment before Christmas to help with energy bills.
“We need an Executive formed now and parties working together to ensure people get this payment right away without delay.
“They could and should already have it. The DUP’s cruel boycott of government has held up this payment and left people struggling and worrying about a cold winter with no support.
“Not only have the DUP delayed households from getting this payment, but they also promised and misled people that the payment was coming in November.
“Enough is enough. People cannot wait any longer, they need support now as the cold winter begins to bite. They deserve an Executive that will work in their interests."
