Peter Robinson’s comments about the dysfunctional Stormont Executive are, “a bit rich, given that he leads one of the parties which has most blatantly contributed to its dysfunction”, according to NI Conservatives’ spokesman, Mark Brotherston.
“It’s thoroughly ironic that the First Minister is the one bandying about this type of criticism”, Mark continued. “DUP ministers at Stormont have been among the most dysfunctional of the lot. The Social Development committee found that it was deliberately misled by Nelson McCausland, while the health minister threatens to bust his budget, in defiance of his party leader. Devolved government here is certainly dysfunctional. In fact it has been turned into a circus by the Executive’s inability to take tough decisions and DUP ministers have been among the very worst offenders.”
“It mightn’t be a coincidence that Peter Robinson has launched this attack just as the Standards and Privileges Committee discusses a report investigating his own conduct and that of his wife, Iris. There are certainly important issues around welfare reform and the political structures which need to be sorted out to give the people of Northern Ireland the governance they deserve. Part of the problem is that bungling ministers like Poots and McCausland appear untouchable, whereas, in any other part of the UK, they would have been forced to resign long ago. Peter Robinson could best start the process of improving politics in Northern Ireland by setting his own party’s house in order.”