TUV leader Jim Allister has questioned why foreign diplomats are gifted passes to the Northern Ireland Assembly, a situation which does not exist in Westminster.
Commenting the North Antrim MLA said:
“I question why special status has been granted to the British Irish Secretariat and the US Consulate when it comes to gifting them open house passes to Parliament Buildings. With passes strictly limited when it comes to MLAs and essential staff, why should these external interests be feted in this way? Why can’t such external visitors not be facilitated, as others, by signing in for a pass when they have reason to visit, rather than giving them a free run of the premises?
“The fact that this arrangement does not exist when it comes to the Commons underscores the fact that the Assembly has accepted that the Republic has a say in the internal affairs of Northern Ireland. This of course squares with Unionists who after protesting that they would not be involved in any discussions about Northern Ireland’s internal affairs at which the Irish Government was represented meekly accepted the presence of the Irish Foreign Minister at talks two weeks ago”.
Mr Allister’s question and the reply were as follows:
To ask the Assembly Commission, pursuant to AQW 37557/11-15, how many passes are currently held by (i) British Irish Secretariat staff; and (ii) US Consulate staff; and why staff from the British Irish Secretariat and the US Consulate are entitled to passes to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Seven members of the British Irish Secretariat and five US Consulate staff have been issued with Northern Ireland Assembly passes. The issue of these passes was approved by the Speaker’s office.