▁are ▁cor rupt ing ▁the ▁institutions ▁in ▁their ▁own ▁interests ▁and ▁against ▁the ▁wishes ▁of ▁the ▁general ▁public ". ▁ ▁Res ignation ▁of ▁Martin ▁Mc Gu in ness ▁ ▁On ▁ 8 ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁Ger ry ▁Adams , ▁S inn ▁F é in ▁President , ▁called ▁on ▁F oster ▁to ▁step ▁aside ▁and ▁said ▁that ▁her ▁ref us al ▁to ▁do ▁so ▁was ▁" un accept able ". ▁He ▁hint ed ▁that ▁Martin ▁Mc Gu in ness ▁could ▁res ign ▁over ▁the ▁sc andal . ▁Under ▁Storm ont ▁rules , ▁a ▁res ignation ▁of ▁either ▁the ▁First ▁Minister ▁or ▁deput y ▁First ▁Minister ▁automatically ▁means ▁that ▁both ▁offices ▁are ▁declared ▁vac ant ▁simultaneously . ▁ ▁The ▁following ▁day , ▁Mc Gu in ness ▁travel led ▁to ▁Storm ont ▁to ▁announ ce ▁his ▁res ignation ▁as ▁deput y ▁First ▁Minister ▁of ▁Northern ▁Ireland . ▁Mc Gu in ness ▁was ▁seriously ▁ill ▁and ▁travel led ▁from ▁Al tn ag el vin ▁Area ▁Hospital ▁in ▁Der ry ▁to ▁sign ▁his ▁res ignation ▁letter . ▁His ▁res ignation ▁meant ▁that ▁Ar l ene ▁F oster ▁could ▁not ▁continue ▁in ▁her ▁position ▁as ▁First ▁Minister . ▁Stand ing ▁orders ▁allowed ▁S inn ▁F é in ▁seven ▁days ▁to ▁nomin ate ▁another ▁deput y ▁First ▁Minister ▁to ▁restore ▁the ▁Executive ▁Office . ▁If ▁S inn ▁F é in ▁failed ▁to ▁nomin ate , ▁the ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁Assembly ▁would ▁be ▁dissol ved ▁and ▁the ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁Executive ▁would ▁collapse ▁and ▁a ▁snap ▁election ▁would ▁be