Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“On Tuesday in the Assembly I exposed the fact that Education Minister John O’Dowd was about to appoint Sharon O’Connor as the chair of the Education and Skills Authority. As I pointed out Ms O’Connor has no background in education and therefore her appointment has raised eyebrows in certain quarters.
“Added to this, she recently received a £275K golden handshake when she recently left her position as Chief Executive of Derry City Council.
“It is scandalous that someone should receive such a sum upon leaving one publically funded job only to immediately walk into another well paid post funded by the public purse.
“I have therefore today tabled a question to the Environment Minister asking what measures are in place to claw back proportionately public ‘handshake’ payments to retiring Council Chief Executives who are then given other paid public appointments.”