Foster defends North's handling of Covid-19 crisis

First Minister Arlene Foster during a press conference in Parliament Buildings, Stormont. Picture: Press Eye

DUP leader Arlene Foster has rejected criticism that a failure to align the North’s Covid-19 policies with Dublin has led to the current crisis in the hospital system there.

Speaking at the conclusion of the 25th plenary North-South Ministerial Council alongside Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, Ms Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill defended their handling of the pandemic after the North’s hospital system was overwhelmed earlier this week, leading to people being treated in ambulances outside full hospitals.