Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Today’s written statement by the Finance Minister announcing the outcome of June monitoring – a statement he only just managed to get out in July – should confirm to any objective observer that Stormont is not fit for purpose. Minister Hamilton makes it clear that he believes the approach of the Executive in which he serves is unwise. For instance he states that a decision to apply the £87 million cut now would be prudent as it “would have given departments certainty … and would have permitted far better planning around savings. However, it was not possible to obtain political agreement to that approach.”
“An executive which cannot take decisions which can be fully backed by its Finance Minister in public is an executive which needs to be put out of its misery.
“The Minister does not even attempt to hide the fact that he has had to roll over to Sinn Fein telling us that the protection to the Education budget is without justification yet he agreed to it!
“But what does this deliver for the ordinary people of Northern Ireland apart from the grim news that even further cuts are in the pipeline due to Sinn Fein refusing to implement welfare reform?
“There is no news on equal pay for civil servants. It isn’t even mentioned.
“There is no news of any gap funding for victims’ groups which face an uncertain future with money having run out.
“These are both great disappointments and matters which ought to have been addressed by this failing executive.
“It’s time for Unionists to wake up and realise that Stormont is inoperable. Sinn Fein are not interested in bringing good and durable government to Northern Ireland or delivering for ordinary people. As the Finance Minister’s remarks about Education reveal it’s still all about Ourselves Alone.”