Ford says no presumptions should be made around Alliance participation in the Executive

It comes after Alliance held a meeting with the DUP and Sinn Fein over the Justice ministry in which Alliance representatives put forward a number of proposals. However, Mr Ford said at this stage no decision had been taken around whether his party would be taking the Department.

“The most important issue for Alliance is moving Northern Ireland forward. That’s why we put a number of proposals based around key points in our manifesto, which we believe will be for the benefit of everyone in our society. We are currently awaiting a response on those from the DUP and Sinn Fein.

“We have made ourselves available for further discussions if necessary. While we will not get into the proposals publicly, the five steps to progress we launched with our manifesto formed the basis of them.

“We need to see an Executive which overcomes the difficulties it has experienced in the past, which deals with the financial and social problems in our society, which progresses towards a united community and which meets the needs of everyone here. That’s what we will be basing an decision on.”