Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-

“As the present Stormont arrangements implode, the reality needs to be faced that this is a catastrophic failure of the unworkable system of government at Stormont.

“I have long warned that mandatory coalition by its very nature was bound to fail, sooner or later.

“Thus, there is no point in aspiring – as some of Mike Nesbitt’s comments suggest – to simply re-establishing Belfast Agreement devolution after some cosmetic changes. Root and branch change is essential if we are to obtain a durable and workable system of government and the least that such requires is the jettisoning of mandatory coalition and its replacement with the normality of voluntary coalition and a fully functioning opposition.

“The axe needs to be laid to the root of the problem – the unworkability and inevitable failure of mandatory coalition.

“Leaving the spectacularly failed structures in place and simply having another election to the same failed structures will fix nothing. It is time to face up to the reality – unpalatable for some – that fundamental infrastructural change must be made if a Stormont which can last and deliver is to be obtained.”

Statement by Jim Allister MLA:

“I welcome the decision by the UUP to leave the now wholly discredited Executive.

“It came as no surprise to TUV that the IRA was still armed and active, and as such, Sinn Fein had a private army on the streets while they sat in government.  We have long maintained that Sinn Fein is unfit for government.

“TUV have consistently made the case for democratic reform of Stormont and in particular having an opposition, therefore it is better late than never for the UUP to make a move in our direction.

“If the DUP turns a blind eye then they are licencing the IRA to murder again. The time has come for the DUP and the Secretary of State to put an end to this corruption of democracy. If Sinn Fein are permitted to continue in government while the IRA is connected to murder, then it makes a mockery out of Stormont, and leaves it without any credibility.”

Statement by Jim Allister MLA:

“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate all those involved in establishing Slemish n tha Braid Credit Union.

“I visited with them yesterday along with Cllr Timothy Gaston and I was greatly impressed by their wonderful premises, which has great scope and will be a marvellous facility for the community.

“Credit unions have such a positive role to play and I am delighted that Harryville has this facility on its doorstep.”

Echoing the comments, Deputy Mayor Cllr Timothy Gaston continued:

“Credit Unions are an asset to a community, and it is great to see that the hard work put in will benefit the Harryville Community.

“I wish the team every success, and I would encourage the Harryville community to get involved.”

Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:

“I have written to Justice Minister David Ford asking a number of questions about the NI Courts and Tribunals Service IT system. I understand that the Service recently transferred responsibility for all its IT systems from Fujitsu to the civil service IT Assist provider.

“For some reason the NI Courts and Tribunals Service has seen fit to replace every single computer monitor at every location on its estate in Northern Ireland by a brand new monitor as part of this transition process. I have asked Minister Ford to advise me of the cost of same.

“Further, I have invited him to comment on three specific aspects.

“Firstly – is it the case that the current monitors being replaced are 100% adequate and do not need replaced – they are flat screen LCD monitors with many years life left in them? Secondly – is it correct that the old monitors will be dumped? Thirdly – are new monitors being installed in courthouses in respect of whose closure the Minister has recently consulted?

“Surely this is a saga of outrageous waste of tens of thousands of pounds at a time when the Minister regularly remind us of the squeeze within his budget.”

Statement by Jim Allister:

“Today we learned that executive parties have had a document outlining the role and functions of the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval (ICIR) since June. However, it is clear from the outrage expressed by innocent victims – who some claim are their central concern when it came to this issue – that they not only profoundly disagree with the proposals but they were not consulted about them. In fact they knew nothing about the proposals.

“The “shared understanding” of the UK and Irish Governments about the operation of the ICIR shows that it is a body which is incapable of bringing closure for innocent victims. Killers will not be named nor the identity of those who provide information disclosed. The raw information the ICIR acquires – which presumably may include DNA and other evidence which could be crucial when it comes to mounting a successful prosecution – will be destroyed when the ICIR ceases to operate.

“Some months ago I highlighted plans to bring the relevant legislation through Westminster in an attempt to keep the hands of local politicians clean and avoid local scrutiny, but the facts that the establishment of the the ICIR will be the outworkings of their Stormont House Agreement and that they have kept this information under wraps from innocent victims since June proves their culpability.

“It has been clear for many years that innocent victims are an embarrassment to those who embrace the IRA’s political wing in government but these proposals take betrayal to new level and potentially deny victims the right not only to know who killed their loved ones but also destroys the prospects of successful prosecutions in the future.

“I challenge the DUP and UUP to confirm if they have had sight of this whitewash charter since June and to declare themselves on its contents.”