Other News In Brief

Edwin Poots' Excuses 'Too Little Too Late' - Alliance

South Belfast Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw has said Edwin Poots' excuses after he referred to the LGBT community in a tweet alongside paedophilia are "too little too late".

She said: "Edwin Poots has a long standing reputation as someone who has discriminated against the LGBT community," said Ms Bradshaw, adding: "We all remember his time as Health Minister when he actively campaigned against affording more rights to the LGBT community by refusing to lift a ban on gay men giving blood and his use of public funds to fight the right for same-sex couples to adopt children."

UUP Hits Out At Secretary Of State

Ulster Unionist MLA Mike Nesbitt has expressed his deep disappointment at the news that the Secretary of State has refused to use his powers to ensure victims of institutional abuse receive the redress recommended by the Inquiry headed by Sir Anthony Hart.

The Strangford MLA said: "I understand James Brokenshire has told victims' representatives that he will not move to legislate in the absence of a devolved Executive. I do not support that position; indeed, I don't even understand it.

"It's all very well saying the best way forward is to restore the Northern Ireland Executive but that is cold comfort to abuse victims, some of whom have been waiting decades for redress, while others have sadly passed away.

"The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry made clear abuse victims were let down by the State and agents acting on the State's behalf. The case for redress has been made. It is time to act and in the absence of functioning devolution, I believe it is the Secretary of State's duty to step in, as he has already done regarding the budget and mechanisms to restore the Executive."

Vacuum At Stormont Is Putting Lives At Risk - SDLP

SDLP Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA has described news that a new bowel cancer screening test cannot be used in Northern Ireland because of the collapse of the institutions as a "disgrace".

He said: "The collapse of the institutions has had a clear and negative impact on our health service. At a time when we should be implementing a transformation plan, the service has been starved of strategic and political direction. That paralysis is resulting in longer waiting times, poorer patient outcomes and will lead to people getting sicker.

"Now some of our most vulnerable patients – those with suspected cancer – will have to wait for a new, more accurate, screening test. Early diagnosis and treatment is critical to beating bowel cancer. Delaying the implementation of advanced screening techniques will lead to people dying earlier, there are no two ways about it.

"It is a disgrace that the vacuum at Stormont, caused by a failure of politics, is putting lives at risk. People will not understand that. We should not stand for it. Action is urgently needed to restore powersharing and support our health service."

(CD/LM)