Statement by TUV leader, Jim Allister:-
“Peter Robinson’s shameless breach of promise within 24 hours not just robs the DUP of the last vestige of credibility, but deliberately keeps Martin McGuinness in office. This is because resignation by the First Minister would have taken the deputy First Minister out of office as well.
“Section 16B (2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is very clear:-
“If either the First Minister or the deputy First Minister ceases to hold office at any time, whether by resignation or otherwise, the other—
(a)shall also cease to hold office at that time;”
“So, by breaking his word the DUP leader has instead of punishing Sinn Fein rewarded McGuinness by keeping him in office.
“Clearly, the DUP is trying to keep the failed institutions in place, with the suggestion that Arlene Foster is being retained as a ‘gatekeeper’ being a nonsense cover for their duplicity.”