Episode details

Radio 4,13 Feb 2019,28 mins
Who Needs Politicians Anyway?
Available for over a year
After the resignation of Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister in January 2017 triggered the collapse of the power-sharing government at Stormont, Northern Ireland has effectively been run by civil servants. The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½â€™s Ireland Correspondent Chris Page talks to those at the front line of public services to see what impact the lack of ministers is having. We hear from a primary school principal that blocked toilets and broken sinks are being fixed by volunteers as there’s no one to lobby for more money to pay for building work. A woman dealing with cancer tells us she’s been let down by local politicians in accessing vital drugs. And Northern Ireland’s top civil servant tells us how he’s coping with running a country without any ministers to provide direction. Do we really need politicians or are things better without them? Produced by Elaine Dunseath for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Northern Ireland
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