Statement by Jim Allister MEP:

“For the past two years the DUP has been assuring everyone that they negotiated real changes on devolution which made Ministers fully accountable. Yet, at the weekend Ian Paisley, the man who headed up the DUP negotiators, admits, in reference to “the mess” in education, that the governmental system is failing and more democracy is needed. So much for all the empty pretence of the last 2 years.

"Education is indeed in a mess, courtesy of Sinn Fein, who hold office courtesy of the DUP and the system of government which they negotiated and accepted. It is all very well for Ian Paisley to talk now of needing more democracy and saving our children from Ruane, it’s a pity that in his dash for government  he didn’t show such concerns.”