Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“The DUP policy of resigning and then re-appointing Ministers was always a nonsense but today the farce increased when the DETI Minister was reappointed to move two Bills. Interestingly, the letter from Peter Robinson appointing him was written on OFMdFM letter headed paper and signed by him as “First Minister”. So much for his claim that he was standing aside and only leaving Arlene Foster as “gatekeeper”!
“When the DUP reneged on their promise to leave the Executive within 24 hours but then failed to do so they lost all credibility. With each resignation and re-appointment their policy is seen to reach a greater level of absurdity.
“Does Northern Ireland really benefit from having local Ministers when the DUP clearly believe that we can get by with Ministers who serve a day a week?
“We are long past the point where all Unionists should recognise that the current system isn’t worth saving.”