Ulster Unionist economy spokesperson Adrian Cochrane-Watson MLA has said that the Enterprise Minister’s reappearance in the Assembly to move the second stage of the Credit Unions Bill further demonstrates that the priorities of the DUP are skewed.

Mr Cochrane-Watson said:

“I have called Jonathan Bell a yo-yo Minister because that is exactly what he is.  He has yo-yoed back into office today to progress a piece of legislation about Credit Unions.  It is an important issue, but is it more important than answering questions about renewable energy subsidies, which he opted out of yesterday?

“The Health Minister has also been largely absent without leave over the past month.  Is tackling the growing waiting list crisis in the NHS not more important than the second stage of the Credit Unions Bill?  If Minister Bell thinks being a part time, in-out Minister is because of some sort of principle of not doing business as usual, why does he and his party not just withdraw from the Executive completely?”

Speaking during the debate Mr Cochrane-Watson said:

“As I rise to address this important legislation, I feel very privileged and honoured that the Minister is giving us his time to move the motion before he resigns at lunchtime.

“I am very excited to stand and address it. I am not sure whether the 373,000 people on the waiting lists for our hospitals would be as excited by the performance of the Assembly today. I am not sure if it would be well received that, when we brought the crisis in our hospitals and in our health sector to this Chamber for debate to try and address the waiting lists for cancer patients.”