COST OF LIVING DEBATE:THE MP who defeated David Trimble at the last Westminster election said the DUP was working most effectively to ease the plight of ordinary people in the current economic downturn.
Upper Bann Assembly member David Simpson accused Sinn Féin of failing to address rising energy costs and the ability of the vulnerable to keep themselves warm in a time of hardship.
"It is that legitimate expectation and for that reason that Gerry Adams is the greatest political failure and most bankrupt political leader in Northern Ireland today," he said to loud applause.
He criticised republicans particularly over the failure to hold Executive meetings at a time when need was rising.
"At a time when people are really suffering it is a basic requirement that politicians do all in their power to help them. Failure to do so represents a gross betrayal of the people especially when pressing social matters require our focus and attention."
South Down Assembly member Jim Wells said the public should have no worries about the use of public funds at a time of rising need.
The DUP had frozen the district and business rates and it was measures such as this, along with the award of free public transport, which proved the party's credentials as prudent spenders of tax-payers' money.
Pointing to the party's most senior Ministers, Peter Robinson, Nigel Dodds and Arlene Foster, he said they were the best candidates to lead Northern Ireland through the downturn.
Former culture minister Edwin Poots, addressing the needs of agriculture, said farmers were hindered by high fuel and commodities costs. He spoke of the high quality produce sold on to supermarket chains and pressed highly-profitable retailers to help absorb rising costs rather than pass them on to hard-pressed consumers.
Criticism was heaped on Northern Ireland's three MEPs, especially Jim Allister who quit the DUP in opposition to entering a Stormont Executive.
Mr Poots said Northern Ireland would have had just seven "super councils" four of them run by nationalists, an Irish language act, water charges, imposed North-South links and other unacceptable policies imposed upon them.
Minister for Culture Gregory Campbell said the average household was £1,000 better off thanks to the actions of DUP Ministers. He said other parties had failed to act in the interests of ordinary people. "While others have delayed and stalled on taking action within their departments, DUP Ministers have acted and taken decisions to help communities."
Criticising Sinn Féin in particular he said: "People across Northern Ireland want to see the Executive meet, not to discuss language acts or devolving any new responsibilities but so that fuel poverty measures can be dealt with and investment projects brought forward." He said there needed to be action from the Executive and Sinn Féin must stand condemned for the effects their "blockade" is having.