Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Ms O’Neill’s comments today calling for the immediate closure of schools and universities – less than 24 hours after the Executive agreed to follow the professional advice it had received on the issue – in a damming indictment of just how dysfunctional Stormont is. On the day on which the RHI Report is published we see that the Executive is incapable of providing clear and consistent action on coronavirus.
“Michelle O’Neill is supposedly subject to a Pledge of Office that commits her to support all Executive decisions, but it seems there is a higher pledge of office for Ms O’Neill. Today she did the bidding of the dark forces that direct Sinn Fein and repudiated the executive decision to which she was a party just hours before.
“Ms O’Neill claims that she respects the work of the Chief Medical Officer Michael McBride and public health officials but “we have to be realistic”.
“There should be no buts about professional advice on coronavirus.
“It has clear that the latest Sinn Fein position has nothing to do with the professional advice and everything to do with politics. Was O’Neill’s decision to reverse her position of last night influenced by the Army Council?”