Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“I welcome the fact that, after some prodding from myself, the Social Development Minister apologised to the DSD Committee. I do not, however, accept that the misinformation in letter was the result of anything other than calculated and deliberate.
“Did the Minister really need to read the Committee Hansard to find out who he had been meeting? Did he not check when the BBC asked him about the meeting? Did he not check when asked multiple questions from MLAs about the meeting?
“The truth is that the Minister ran out of road today.
“In light of what he said before the committee I have tabled the following question for priority written answer within 2 days:
To ask the Minister of Social Development in view of the fact that at today’s meeting of the DSD Committee he conceded he was wrong about meeting the Glass and Glazing Federation will the Minister now revise the answers he has given to questions on the issue.
Note to editors
On 23rd October 2013 Mr Allister received the following answer from the Minister for Social Development:
To ask the Minister for Social Development to list the occasions on which he has met with representatives of Turkington Holdings Limited or any of its subsidiaries.
A meeting I had with the Glass and Glazing Federation on 16 April 2012 was attended by representatives of Turkington Holdings Ltd.