Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Peter Robinson’s announcement today ducks the real issue.
“The problem isn’t that the Assembly hasn’t been suspended. The problem is that a party linked to terrorism and murder remains in government.
“They remain in government solely because DUP Ministers are still clinging onto Ministerial office – unlike members of any other Unionist party.
“Suspending the Assembly does not change that reality. Sinn Fein will still strut the stage as ministers, but then be more unaccountable than ever.
“TUV isn’t hung up on keeping the Assembly but let’s consider some practical outworkings from the DUP proposal. If Mr Robinson’s suggestion is agreed his Ministers, along with Sinn Fein’s, will remain in government. Only now there will be no Assembly to hold Ministers to account. There will be no more committee meetings. Therefore the NAMA inquiry will not proceed.
“All the time DUP Ministers will continue to partner a party which is directly linked to a murder on the streets of our capital city.
“All the time they will continue to sustain Martin McGuinness as joint First Minister, even after today’s claim that the NIO halted HET plans to question him about his role in the Enniskillen Poppy Day Massacre.
“More than that. Under the Robinson plan, during the time the Assembly is suspended the DUP will be talking with the representatives of a still armed and active IRA about how to get the failed and discredited Assembly and executive back up and running!
“In reality the DUP’s suggestion is transparently about their own narrow party political interest rather than any genuine concern about the IRA or justice for the murdered. It is an attempt to kick up dust to obscure the real issue, namely, IRA/Sinn Fein’s continuing presence in government.”