Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“Today my questioning of the DCAL minister in the Assembly revealed that she is blocking approval of the 2013 Business Plans and budgets for two cross-border bodies, namely, Waterways Ireland and the Language Body.
“This means that throughout 2013 these cross-border bodies were spending our money without approval of elements as basic to financial accountability as their budget and business plans. Hence, I challenge the legality of their spending, which is something I am now raising with the DFP minister.
“The situation is worsened by the fact that it is deliberate blocking of approval of budgets by the DCAL minister which has produced this situation. This happened at a cross-border meeting attended not just by the DCAL minister but by the DUP Junior minister, Jonathan Bell, raising the obvious question of the complicity of the DUP in this assault on financial accountability. Did Jonathan Bell just sit silent while the DCAL minister ensured financial anarchy prevailed?
“North-South bodies are already a huge drain on our resources, which will cost £165m during the term of this Assembly. Now, we find deliberate financial anarchy being perpetuated by this Sinn Fein minister.
“Today I lifted the lid on another aspect of the financial turmoil within the Executive. As for the pretence of accountability, financial or otherwise, it is clear it is a sham.”