Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“Three weeks ago, after DUP/Sinn Fein feuding over what industries should be open, the Economy Minister, as a face-saving ploy, setup a Stakeholders Forum to advise on this and related issues.
“On Wednesday Mrs Dodds replied to me in the Assembly Ad Hoc Committee that the Forum’s recommendations were going to the Executive today. Yet, at their daily press conference the First Ministers had no news of progress on this vital issue.
“There are businesses which could safely operate with adequate social distancing, but there is no direction from the Executive if they can. This is shameful. Sinn Fein made scurrilous attacks on Ulster Carpets and others, yet, the Executive stands mute on what should happen.
“Business, especially manufacturing, needs leadership from Stormont. Alas, it continues to let them down. At the end of this we need an economy to resuscitate, yet, Stormont continues to dither and disagree. This is not good enough, though par for the course of failed mandatory coalition.”