Edwin Poots is replaced as Health Minister

Mr Robinson announced the reshuffle via Twitter on Tuesday (September 23) when he posted a photograph of his new Ministerial team.

Mr Poots has been replaced by South Down MLA Jim Wells, who has said the role of health minister was the “most challenging position in the executive”.

It had always been the intention of the DUP to reshuffle some of the Ministerial posts mid-way through the Assembly term and Mr Poots said he had served through two thirds of the term and had “got considerably longer than I expected.”

“I was privileged to have served in the Northern Ireland Executive for over five years now,” said Mr Poots.

“The last three years have been in the Department of Health, which has been the most challenging political job I have undertaken. It has been a huge honour to do it and I believe I have left it in better shape than I found it.”

Mr Poots said the financial constraints made it difficult to deal with the problems.

“The problems continue to grow as demands continue to grow and the problem is that the finances are no longer available and we don’t get increases that would allow the expansion of services that I would like to see.”

Mr Poots wished his successor every success in his new role. “I got considerably longer in the role than I had initially expected and I am delighted for Jim that he has got this opportunity,” concluded Mr Poots.

In the same week as the reshuffle, the Lagan Valley MLA also spoke publicly about the future of the First Minister, commenting that the DUP leader Peter Robinson would stand down from the top post before the next Assembly election.

However, Mr Robinson has categorically denied Mr Poots’ claim. “Neither now, nor before the assembly election, have I any plans to stand down,” Mr Robinson said. “The public and media can be confident that when I decide such a moment has arrived I will be the one to make the announcement.”