Our global economy is reeling and our local community is looking to the Assembly for leadership and help. What is response of Sinn Féin? In one of the most challenging periods to face our country in decades, what is the Sinn Féin strategy for helping the people?

Sadly, and pathetically, they respond by obstructing the Executive from meeting and leaving those most at risk to fend for themselves. 

The powerlessness of opposition during Direct Rule was frustrating, but the paralysis of the Executive by Sinn Féin is unforgivable. Their narrow, selfish agenda helps no-one at this time of financial hardship. It’s time for Sinn Féin to get back to work.

What we have now is a far cry from the buoyant Sinn Féin of years gone by. Under Trimble’s unionism, who would have believed that it would have been Sinn Féin that would be on the back-foot, threatening to bring devolution to an end because of their own failures in negotiations and go back to direct rule.

Sinn Féin’s strategy might have worked for them in another era but not now. We will not bow to threats, bend to pressure or be blown off track. We will not budge until the terms are right and the conditions we set out in our manifesto have been met. If and when we have the right deal and public confidence is secured we will move forward but not until then.

The DUP want to see a society where everyone can benefit from economic prosperity. That is why we placed such emphasis on it in the Programme for Government.

That’s why the present refusal to have an Executive meeting to deal with the hardship being faced by our people is so frustrating.  

It is not just frustrating for me as a politician, but is also frustrating for the man and woman facing the reality of economically challenging  times. Who, if they lose their job, will be asking the question, ‘when are policing and justice powers going to be devolved to the Assembly’?

Does anyone in the construction industry believe that an Irish Language Act will address the current downturn facing that sector? 

I want to see policing and justice powers devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly. 

My party fought an election on this issue and we are committed to delivering upon it but our manifesto makes it clear we will not support devolving such powers until the community has confidence in the structures and in those who would operate them. Therefore, there will be no justice minister that cannot command the support of the wider community.

Sinn Féin should remember that devolution of policing and justice is not the only unfinished business. We have unfinished business too - in reforming the system of government here away from mandatory coalition, reducing the number of Government departments, resolving the parades issue and creating a more efficient public sector.  I hope Sinn Féin will be just as keen to see our outstanding issues resolved.