He said: "Good afternoon. I want to make a statement to you, I won't be taking any questions after the statement.

"I have been honoured and privileged to support my father, the First Minister, during this period of historic change for our country. To be a minister in the Government of Northern Ireland for the past 10 months has been an absolute honour.

" I entered an elected political life in 1996 and have been driven by a desire to be a faithful servant to my constituents in North Antrim.

" I'm also pleased to have played some small part in helping to secure the current political stability, that of the political institutions that our country and people enjoy now so freely.

"I take personal pride in ensuring that the Democratic Unionist Party, in negotiations, secured from Sinn Fein not only the signing up to support for the police but insisted that they made a pledge of support to the police in the Assembly.

"However, the past 10 months have not been without controversy, personal criticism, unfounded allegation, innuendo and attacks on me personally, followed by Ombudsman's reports that have cleared me.

"This relentless period of criticism by those who have decided on this path has been unceasing. The criticism has been a distraction and has got in the way of the activities of this Government and importantly it's got in the way of the activities of my political party.

"There's no doubt that the message and good work that I have done as a Junior Minister in this administration has been overshadowed by this personal controversy.

"I accept that there are those who wish for me to be a convenient distraction of the DUP's political message. I will not serve that purpose.

"What is more I refuse to be a convenient excuse to attack the position of the leader of my party, I will not serve that purpose or indeed the purpose of those who would seek to undermine him, indeed one of Ulster's finest sons. I have considered these factors and with a certain degree of sadness I've informed the First Minister of my intention to resign from my Ministerial Office.

"My resignation will take effect after my replacement has been found, but I expect that within days, not weeks.

"I cannot express strongly enough that I am not going because of some hidden or some revealed wrongdoing on my part, I have no intention of stopping my political activity or relinquishing my position as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for North Antrim.

" Unlike my critics, I believe in putting my constituents first, working for their interests is something I believe I can do with more success from the backbenches than from the current position that I hold as a Minister.

"I have relished the opportunity to be part of the Government but I have grown increasingly frustrated by this campaign of personal bitterness, of jealousy and indeed of perception against me. Thank you ladies and gentlemen."