Ulster Unionist Party leader, Robin Swann MLA, has stated that this week`s evidence at the RHI inquiry confirms that the last Sinn Fein/DUP Executive was rotten in spite of what they tried to claim at the time.  

Robin Swann MLA said:

“Just when you think that politics couldn`t sink any lower, along comes another day of stunning evidence in the RHI Inquiry which shines a light into the murky goings-on of the last Sinn Fein/DUP Executive. The whole thing stinks.

“On Saturday during my Conference speech, I stated that ‘if openness and transparency are the currency of democracy, the last executive was bankrupt’. I stand by every word of that statement and the rest of my speech. I was accused by some of splitting unionism. However, you simply can`t turn a blind eye to these types of actions, no matter where they emanate from. The truth is the last Sinn Fein/DUP Executive was rotten in spite of what they tried to claim at the time.

“Sinn Fein are up to their necks in this, corrupting governance and flouting the intent of law by putting in place a structure that allowed someone previously barred from being a Special Adviser, to continue in a role managing the work of advisers and the Sinn Fein Executive Ministers. It is also clear that Sinn Fein Ministers are not necessarily the decision makers when it comes to the work of the Northern Ireland Executive. Rather they seem to consult a group of ‘senior republicans’ before making any decisions, as demonstrated by Máirtín Ó Muilleoir going cap in hand to Ted Howell seeking permission to sign off on an RHI business plan. Whose interests are they acting in?

“Those that dragged us down to this point have only themselves to blame. The DUP needs to take a long hard look at itself and how their leader, ministers and special advisers have behaved during the RHI debacle. If they want to come and defend what they did, then let`s hear from them. Do they think it was good governance? Instead of attempting to deflect and blame others why not do the honourable thing and own up that what happened was wrong. They should demonstrate both accountability and responsibility.

“Both the DUP and Sinn Fein should be very clear. If an Assembly gets up and running again, there`s no going back to the old ways of working. The public won`t accept it and neither will we. During the RHI inquiry Sir Patrick Coghlin described the Sinn Fein and DUP departments involved as like ‘two alley cats fighting’. The fact is the alley cats of Northern Ireland politics will have to behave in a different way if we are to get an Assembly up and running.”