Sinn Fein ‘not serious’ about Stormont reform, says Paul Givan

DUP minister Paul Givan (pictured, inset) said education proposals have taken an "exorbitant amount of time" to overcome "minor issues" in coming to the assembly chamber.

At the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis last weekend, first minister Michelle O'Neill said her party would be coming forward with proposals to reform the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland, to "end the blockage on progress".

She also said the public "understand the DUP are who they are" and described a "very challenging arrangement" in the power-sharing Executive.

During questions for ministers in the assembly on Monday, Mr Givan said if Sinn Fein "want to start with reform, they can start with their own party".

"They can start with removing the blockade on my legislation, some of which has sat for months within the Executive," he told MLAs.

"They can start by removing the veto that they're exercising by blocking it by coming on the agenda.

"So, if Sinn Fein are serious about reform, they're serious about ending the blockade, let them start with themselves, because they're the ones that are blocking the work of the Executive on a number of issues, not least in education.

"And my bills that I've brought forward have taken an exorbitant amount of time to overcome some of the most minor issues."

He added: "They're not serious about reform, because all they're doing is blocking a serious number of education related bills and proposals which would benefit the children of Northern Ireland ."

The education minister also said that the draft budget brought forward by Sinn Fein finance minister John O'Dowd is "wholly inadequate" for his department.

"That's why it won't be getting support from me, and there needs to be significant work to be carried out in order for us to get to a point where an agreement can be reached," he said.

"Because ultimately, once a decision is taken on the budget, that is the envelope of funding that I am left to work with."