In the North, the DUP's Jim Wells has resigned as Health Minister, saying he needs to look after his sick wife.
The decision comes just days after he came under fire for saying children brought up by same sex couples were far more likely to be abused or neglected.
And over the weekend the South Down MLA's also reported to have been critical of a lesbian couple's lifestyle while canvassing in Rathfriland.
David McCann from political website Slugger O'Toole says recent pressures just became too much for him:
