Speaking after today's debate on his motion of no confidence in the Education Minister, Gerry Carroll said: "Today’s vote was resounding; the Education Minister has lost the confidence of a clear majority of MLAs, including his own Executive colleagues. The fact that he remains in post is an indictment of Stormont’s sectarian veto that acts as a barrier to accountability."
"Outrage at Givan’s actions clearly goes far beyond any one politician, one party or one side of the community. I am thankful to have the support of Sinn Féin, the SDLP, Alliance and the independent unionist Claire Sugden."
"For weeks, thousands of people from all backgrounds have flooded the inboxes of MLAs to express their moral outrage at the Minister’s actions. People have taken to streets, calling on the Minister to step aside. Education workers and teaching unions have expressed alarm at the Minister’s clear lack of judgement. In their stubborn refusal to listen to the voices of the people they claim to represent, the DUP’s arrogance is on full display."
"Today’s contributions from the DUP, UUP and TUV were entirely predictable. They tried to impugn my character and attack other parties who supported this motion. Their attempts at distraction and deflection won’t wash with thousands of right-thinking people, who believe that it is wildly inappropriate for an Education Minister to accept money from Israel to effectively whitewash its war crimes, mass starvation, ethnic cleansing and genocide."
"Paul Givan might want to sweep this under the rug, but the rest of us won’t forget. The Palestine solidarity movement, education workers, pupils and their families will continue to apply pressure on this tone deaf, remorseless Minister until he steps down."
Video of Gerry Carroll's full introduction to the debate is here.