Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Immediately after the Spotlight investigation into the DUP’s dealings with Red Sky and Turkington’s I wrote to the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Dr Malcolm McKibbin. I requested that he investigate if Nelson McCausland’s Special Adviser, Stephen Brimstone, had breached sections 5 and 6 of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. The relevant sections read: Continue Reading…
Below is the speech Mr Allister made today when proposing his amendment.
I beg to move amendment No 2:
Leave out all after “glazing” and insert
“; and having no confidence in the Minister for Social Development calls on him to resign.”
I begin on a totally non-controversial note by saying that it is great to see back in the Chamber the Member for East Londonderry Mr David McClarty. [Applause].
Some Members: Hear, hear.
Mr Allister: It is marvellous that he is back with us. I am sure we all wish him every success in the recovery and the battle that he has.
I am not here today to defend the Housing Executive. I am not here today to defend any contractor, whatever vested interest others might have. I have no vested interest in defending any contractor. This debate is about the Minister. It is the Minister that this House can hold to account, and that is why that is the focus and should be the focus of the debate. True to form, of course, the DUP has tabled an amendment in an attempt to divert and divide attention away from the issue — a desperate attempt to muddy the waters as much as they can. We heard Mr Campbell today, as we heard him on the BBC last week, and I think anyone can see through it. Methinks he doth protest too much in the desperate attempts to muddy the waters in these issues. Continue Reading…
