Following a point of order from DUP MLA Philip Brett over a question he had asked, Mr Poots said Ministers “should recognise that they are answerable to the members of this House, who are answerable to the Northern Ireland public”.
“Members and Ministers know my views on this, that where at all possible, it is appropriate that Ministers bring their statements to the floor of the House.
“If they’re sitting on answers that they know they have and are withholding information, they are showing disrespect to the community in Northern Ireland,” he said, adding: “This isn’t Castlereagh Holding Centre where people are sitting saying ‘no comment, no comment, no comment’.”.
Last week the Stormont Speaker urged Ministers to be more open when they answer questions from Members.
Last month, Mr Poots rebuked MLAs over adherence to the dress code for attending the chamber, claiming some had a “very loose interpretation of smart dress”.
