LISTEN: 'We're not doing a U-turn over our views on circuit-breaker' First Minister
Last updated 11th Nov 2020
Arlene Foster said today (Wednesday) that they did not intend to do a U-turn on businesses that were forced to closed because of the current circuit-breaker lockdown.
In a defiant message to Downtown Radio & Cool FM, the First Minister said the position over restrictions ending tomorrow at midnight was still the same.
Regulations run out in less than 48 hours - but business have been left wondering if they will be allowed to re-open.. Health officals are backing a two-week extension - but the DUP vetoed that last night.
The reconvened meeting is currently under way.
But earlier, In a statement issued through Sinn Fein, deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the Executive's approach to the new restrictions must be guided by public health advice.
"Last night at the Executive we were warned by the chief medical officer (Dr Michael McBride) that any easing of the current restrictions would cause 'excess deaths','' she said.
"The advice was stark and clear - if we don't keep current restrictions in place for another two weeks, more people will die.
"My priority has been to save lives, protect livelihoods and ensure that our health service would not be overwhelmed by the spread of the virus.
"Last night the Health Minister (Robin Swann) brought forward a paper which made it very clear there should be an extension of the current restrictions for another two weeks to reduce the spread of the virus and its impact on society.
"The health minister's proposal to extend the restrictions was put to a vote in the Executive.
"Sinn Fein, the UUP, the SDLP and the Alliance Party, a majority of the Executive voted in favour of the health minister's proposals.
"The DUP voted against, used their veto and blocked the Health Minister's proposal.''