The DUP's Ian Paisley Jnr has resigned as junior minister in the Northern
Ireland Assembly.
He has quit after pressure following claims about his lobbying and developer
links.
"I can't express strongly enough that I am not going because of some hidden
or some revealed wrongdoing.
"The past 10 months have not been without controversy.
He conceded that a series of stories about his lobbying on behalf of North
Antrim businessman Seymour Sweeney, who was behind a failed bid to build a
privately-run visitors' centre at the Giant's Causeway, had taken their
toll.
He said the criticism had been a distraction and has got in the way of the
activities of the government and the DUP
"Personal criticism, unfounded allegations, innuendo and attacks on me
personally, followed by ombudsman's reports - that have cleared me.
"The criticism has been a distraction and has got in the way of the
activities of this government and importantly it has gotten in the way of
the activities of my political party."
The junior minister said he was not going to stand down as Assembly member
for North Antrim.
Sinn Fein North Antrim assembly member Daithi McKay welcomed the
resignation.
"There are still a number of questions that he needs to answer in relation
to the Giant's Causeway and other developments," he said.
"Obviously Paisley Jnr has recognised that it is now time to resign from his
position as a junior minister."
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