SDLP follow Sinn Féin in resigning from WHA Board

The announcement comes on the back of Sinn Féin South Down MLA Sinéad Ennis declaring earlier today that her party is withdrawing from the WHA Board,

Both decisions follow ongoing issues around the storage and handling of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) by Re-Gen at the port, which is emitting a foul odour and impacting the health and well-being of the surrounding community.

“We welcome acknowledgement from Sinn Fein around the seriousness of the issues at Warrenpoint Harbour,” said Mr McGrath.

"The SDLP has been highlighting these problems on behalf of the local community for some time.

“While we always used the position on the board to advocate on behalf of the local community, we accept that there is strength in the message of leaving the board together and our representative will be resigning from her role.

“We would urge Sinn Féin to use their Executive power to advocate for the legislative change needed by the DAERA Minister to prevent odours in Warrenpoint that are blighting the lives of residents. What good is it leading the Executive if you can’t secure progress on issues like this for the public?

“Resigning from the board is the right thing to do, but it must be followed up with action at Executive level to address the issues in Warrenpoint.”

The decisions made by Sinn Féin and the SDLP followed an impassioned plea from Independent Newry, Mourne and Down councillor Mark Gibbons who thanked both MLAs for “their passionate pleas this week at Stormont regarding the worsening crisis at Warrenpoint Harbour.”

Mr Gibbons went on to say: “I believe that Stormont speeches mean little if your party still sits on the board of the very body you’re condemning and receives £8,000 per year for doing so. That contradiction has never sat right with me. And I don’t believe it sits right with the community either."

He called for decisive action from Ms Ennis and Mr McGrath's respective parties – which they have since committed to.

Cllr Gibbons welcomed the news of the resignations stating: “I am delighted to see that Sinn Féin and the SDLP have finally stood down from the WHA. This decision is very much welcomed considering the dire circumstances at the WHA in regards to the ongoing toxic environmental stench.

Hopefully now, we will see proper action at the Council Chamber where Sinn Féin and the SDLP have the numbers combined to put this awful situation to an end, once and for all. I will certainly support them. Now that the boardroom shackles are off, the residents of Warrenpoint want to see real leadership and real change so that the people of this beautiful town can breathe clean, fresh air once again.”