Parties looking to Finland and Scotland to make Northern Ireland '˜stronger' and a '˜land of solutions'

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness says the Executive parties are copying Finnish Prime Minister Juha SipilÃ¤'s programme for Government of last year.

By The Newsroom

Published 17th May 2016, 09:51 BST

Updated 17th May 2016, 10:56 BST

They are also attempting to ‘Ulsterise’ the best elements of Nicola Sturgeon’s Scottish National Party programme in Scotland.

Sinn Féin MLA Martin McGuinness said progress is being made towards a Programme For Government but claimed the SDLP are utterly confused about the process.

“A lot of work was done before the election and the SDLP were involved in that and knew the approach was based on the Scottish and Finnish model. The SDLP now appear utterly confused about the process and don’t understand what they signed up for in the development of this programme,” said the Foyle MLA.

According to Mr McGuinness the Executive parties will be taking the best bits out of ‘Finland, a land of solutions: Strategic Programme ofPrime Minister Juha Sipilä’s Government 29 May 2015’ and ‘A Stronger Scotland The Government’s Programme For Scotland 2015-16.’