Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“I am disappointed that, during an exchange with me during question time today, the new Minister for Communities has refused to backtrack from the DUP/SF policy of bringing forward regulations which will gift extra benefit points to terrorists injured while engaged in illegal activity.
“The proposals, which arise from the “Fresh Start” Agreement, will give preferential treatment to terrorists who disabled themselves by their own hand and place them on a par with their innocent victims.
“Mr Givan attempted to defend this position by claiming that the benefits system and Health Service does not take account of how someone comes by their injury. However, the outworking of this proposal will work completely contrary to that very principle. For example, someone injured in a road traffic accident may only get four benefit points and lose their benefits, but a self-injured terrorist will be gifted an extra four points to preserve his benefits.
“Mr Givan may not be in post very long but he is already assisting in forwarding the perverse agenda of Sinn Fein/IRA which seeks to remove the difference between victims and victim makers.”