WATCH: First Minister stresses the need for ministers to support each other over decisions on Covid-19

By Q Radio News and PA Reporter

First Minister Arlene Foster stressed the need for ministers to support each other over decisions on Covid-19.

She acknowledged the DUP would have opted for different restrictions if it was making the decision on its own.

However, she highlighted the Executive made decisions on a coalition basis.

“We are in a five-party Executive and, by its very nature, any decision is going to have to be a compromise,” she said in a Facebook video.

“And I think it’s fair to say that left to the DUP on our own, it would have been a different decision that we would have came forward with. However, it is important to say that everyone in the Executive recognises that there was a need to take some action to deal with the increase in transmission.

“And I’ve always spoken about the balance needed and about the fact that we need to take proportionate decisions. I’m going to continue to seek proportionate decisions and seek balance as we move forward. And let us support each other as we do take these decisions. I think it’s important at this challenging time that we do that.”

Health minister Robin Swann has also called for a united approach in the fight against Covid-19.

“If we continue to stand together, we can prevent the worst,” he said.

“We can help so many individuals and families right across all walks of life who are having a very difficult time.

“This is a time for a united front across our entire community. We must not be distracted or deflected from what we all have to do. If we strictly follow public health advice and restrictions, we can push infection rates down.

“We can protect each other and the health service. We can and we will limit the damage to our communities, our society and our economy.

“The people of Northern Ireland are resilient and I know we can dig in and get through this winter together. We have been through tough times before. We are at our best when we stick together. There will be better times ahead.”

Health minister Robin Swann acknowledged the restrictions were “extremely challenging” but insisted the measures were “proportionate and well founded”.

“My department provided the Executive with detailed scientific and medical assessments over recent weeks, underpinning the need for decisive interventions to counter the growing spread of the virus,” he said.

“These assessments reflected evidence amassed by Sage, evidence which is now in the public domain.

“It was entirely appropriate for the Executive to assess the health advice alongside the potential implications for the economy and society as a whole.

“These are very difficult decisions and I am pleased that we were able to agree a way forward together last week.”