Deputy leader Danny Kennedy said all the big problems remain to be answered.

Pressing questions

What replaces the 11-plus? Will there be a national stadium at the Maze? How do we pay fairly for water? How do we build a more competitive, sustainable economy?

"These are all pressing questions," he said.

"The DUP-Sinn Fein-dominated Executive has yet to provide real leadership on these issues.

"We have heard many fine words about a new beginning from the DUP-Sinn Fein coalition. And when decisions have been taken Northern Ireland's best interests have not been to the forefront of DUP-Sinn Fein thinking.

Shared future

"A partisan deal between the DUP and Sinn Fein will give us 11 local council areas rather than the natural figure of 15. Local government will not be as close to local communities and Belfast's shared future is potentially being sacrificed to Sinn Fein's desire for power in our capital city.

"On victims, instead of responsibly dealing with our past, DUP-Sinn Fein were unable to confront the present flawed definition of victim and created a Victims' Commission that – despite the best efforts of the commissioners – will not well serve innocent victims."

Concerns

Acknowledging that the UUP is part of government too, Mr Kennedy said it was playing its role in order to get things done for the Province.
But it has concerns that the people of Northern Ireland are not being put first, ahead of the DUP and Sinn Fein's interests.

"Devolution has made a difference – but not as much as Ulster Unionists would have desired," he continued.

"The DUP-SF coalition, more interested in partisan manoeuvring than delivering for Northern Ireland, has proven itself not up to the job at hand".

But the UUP did, he concluded, feel vindicated by the progress, after years of vilification by the DUP and "all talk of smashing Sinn Fein" had disappeared.

Meanwhile, the Alliance Party agreed that while the one-year anniversary was welcome, devolution was too often guilty of delivering second-best.

Unimaginative

Leader David Ford commented: "I am pleased that devolution has seen its first birthday and it looks like it's here to stay; however, I am less than pleased with the performance of the ministers in the Stormont Executive.

"They have been unimaginative and have often lacked the vision and courage to take the decisions needed to improve Northern Ireland. They are meant to be making life better for local people but there is very little evidence that they have done this.

"Devolution is meant to be about delivery; however, this Executive has been more focussed on delay instead of making real improvements. They have done absolutely nothing to deliver the shared future Northern Ireland needs to help it prosper."