It is alarming that Stormont parties are spending vast sum on China PPE given the quality concerns and the threat to joint UK approach

This comes after the shambles of the previous joint PPE order with the Republic of Ireland claimed by Sinn Fein, that in fact was not agreed.

NI clearly needs PPE in this crisis. That is not the issue.

The first problem with this latest plan (if it is as reported) is the context: republicans have been doing everything they can to move away from a UK response to Covid-19 and towards an all-island approach. They have undermined colleagues and contradicted joint decisions.

The second problem is that 35% of the order from China that did land in Dublin was unusable. If there was the same failure rate, then £57m of this new order would be wasted.

The BBC Nolan Show deserves thanks for highlighting this alarming story yesterday and Jim Allister for as usual spotting and articulating the implications of a policy decision. Nolan has uncovered concerns within the civil service that the order could undermine the four nation approach and put us in competition with the rest of the UK.

We know why republicans are determined to do this. The health department is saying that any order would be compatible with the UK approach and we trust the DUP and UUP would insist on such, but the fact that the UUP leader Steve Aiken praised Conor Murphy this week is not encouraging. We need urgent clarification on this matter.

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