The South Belfast MLA, who chairs the Committee for the Executive Office, stated: "The First and deputy First Minister's statement rightly includes an ongoing concern about the welfare of those who suffered bereavement or long-lasting health issues from Covid-19. It is also right that TEO leads on the response, especially since the Inquiry itself has questioned the 'lead department' approach to responding to such emergencies.

"However, this was yet another missed opportunity for the First and deputy First Minister to address the Inquiry's conclusion that considerable harm was caused by the fact the institutions had only operated for two months of the previous three years when the virus arrived in Northern Ireland. 

"It’s concerning that, with such a clear conclusion, those parties charged with the responsibility of leading devolved government continue to entertain the prospect that they would collapse it again, despite the clearly stated potential for harm.

“In the absence of such a statement, a logical progression is that any Committee set up to examine Northern Ireland’s contingency planning must also consider the urgent reform of institutions so they cannot be collapsed by a single party. 

“We must make sure that harm to the public can not be exacerbated by political dysfunction in the event of a future emergency.”