Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“After weeks of talks Stormont remains unfit for purpose. Nothing in these proposals do anything to address the fundamental flaws at the heart of the institutions as we remain lumbered with mandatory coalition. There is still no requirement for parties to be agreed about anything before they go into government together. Until that issue is addressed Northern Ireland will be condemned to never ending make or break talks.
“Nor is there anything here for victims. The key issue of the definition is not even discussed. Under this agreement nothing has been done to address the obscenity of the person who was blown up by their own bomb being placed on a par with the innocent victim.
“As was the case with Haass the proposed Independent Commission on Information Retrieval will permit terrorists to give their own self-serving version of their bloody deeds without any fear of what they say being used to prosecute them.
“There is no mention of the OTR issue – something which Unionists said made a deal on the past impossible just a few months ago.
“Ordinary Unionists will be amazed to discover that the Irish Government has been given a consultative role when it comes to the flying of flags. Worryingly too there are proposals for yet more North-Southery.
“Given the mess that Stormont has made of the powers it already has the proposals within the document for fiscal devolution – which go beyond corporation tax – are not to be welcomed either.”