Ulster Unionist Party Leader, Steve Aiken OBE MLA said:
“That an agreement that could have been reached over a week ago has finally been achieved this evening is hardly a startling example of good and effective government.
“The need for an extension on restrictions, based on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer, has now been clearly recognised, while the opening up of some businesses has also been agreed, as has a date for the hospitality industry.
“However, as we have said on many occasions, the imperative is to reduce the pressure on our health service. With the equivalent of over 52 8-bedded wards of COVID19 patients, we have to maintain effective measures to prevent our Health Service from being totally overwhelmed.
“The lack of leadership from The Executive Office, the leaking and the briefing, as well as the use of cross-community voting within the Executive on matters that are anything but, further reinforces our belief that the system of government here needs urgent reform.
“The first duty of our Executive should be the protection of our people, we would be hard-pressed to say that either the DUP or SF have put that responsibility first this week. This has not been a good week for local democracy or for devolution
“I call on us all to pull together to combat COVID19.”