Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“In the immediate aftermath of the Storey funeral, Arlene Foster said she believed Michelle O’Neill should “consider her position and she should think about stepping aside.”
“Today Mrs Foster tells us she would like to see “an acknowledgement that there has been damage done to confidence and to messaging in and around Covid-19.”
“Not only was the credibility of the Executive’s message around the pandemic destroyed when multiple senior figures in Sinn Fein flouted the law in full view of the cameras at the Storey funeral but the confidence of the Unionist people in the DUP’s ability to stand up to Sinn Fein has also been shot to pieces.
“In July O’Neill’s behaviour was an issue which required her resignation. By the first week of September, the DUP are reduced to begging Republicans for an an “acknowledgement”.
“It’s embarrassing As Mrs Foster has rightly observed Sinn Fein demanded resignations in the wake of the golfing dinner in the Republic and those calls, added to the public outrage, resulted in multiple heads rolling.
“What does it say about the administration she jointly leads that Sinn Fein was able to get away scot-free with a much more brazen disregard for the law? The truth is that the current arrangements mean that unless Unionists are prepared to say enough and walk away from sharing power with those who manifestly are unfit for office Republicans can do as they please.
“Having moved from a demand for her resignation to a request for an “acknowledgement” in two months how long will it be until Mrs Foster loses her scruples about standing alongside Mrs O’Neill for press conferences again as well?”