Letter: Minister's decision to go on holiday now during assembly term time seems inexplicable

It's all the more remarkable given the MLAs have only recently returned to the Northern Ireland Assembly after a two-month summer recess and with another two-week recess at the end of this month.

I accept that minister Long's responsibilities carried on through the summer, but it's also accepted practice that all branches of government go into 'sleep' mode during August, when traditionally politicians and their senior advisers take their annual break.

For the Alliance leader and justice minister to head off now seems both inexplicable and, given the challenges facing her department, somewhat tone deaf.

I wonder how our police and prison officers regularly being compelled to work long unsociable hours and with requests for annual leave often being rejected will feel about the justice minister with a two-month summer recess behind her and a two-week recess at the end of the month ahead choosing to holiday now.

Cheap flights?

Alex Swan, ex UUP councillor