Statement by TUV vice-chair Richard Cairns:
“The health service in Northern Ireland was under serious pressure long before the DUP adopted a hokey cokey policy in relation to the Executive. It is quickly becoming obvious, however, that the service is in dire straits with hardworking members of the public having to wait inordinate amounts of time to even see a specialist, never mind receive treatment.
“It has been obvious for years that the health service is regarded by some as a plaything in the political game. When the UUP held the post successive DUP Finance Ministers claimed that the problem lay with the Minister. Now the Ministry is sometimes held by the DUP and the problems are worse than ever.
“Following the latest IRA murder all Unionists should have quit the executive and made clear that they wouldn’t go back into partnership with Sinn Fein/IRA who have proved yet again that they are unfit for government. Northern Ireland needs to move away from a system which has manifestly failed to deliver. Instead we have the ridiculous situation of having a Health Minister in place only for a few hours in order to keep their partnership with Republicans in the Executive alive.
“As was made clear earlier in the week, this situation would not be tolerated in Great Britain. People are suffering and they and their loved ones demand action. With Stormont held in universal contempt it is obvious that it is incapable of delivering that action. Only TUV is serious about addressing the fundamental flaws at the heart of our failed system of government so that we have an administration fit for purpose when it comes to addressing this crisis.”