Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“The confirmation from Pat McCartan that his Independent Financial Review Panel recommended an end to payments to Research Services Ireland with effect from 1 April 2012, yet, the Assembly paid out £150,000 thereafter, raises serious questions for the Assembly Commission and the financial operation on MLAs expenses which it oversees.
“Bad enough that in total £700,000 of public money was siphoned off into the Sinn Fein front organisation, Research Services Ireland, but even worse that the payments continued after the Independent Financial review Panel blew the whistle. Why did the Assembly carry on regardless?
“Thus, I am tabling this priority Question to pursue this matter further:-
‘To ask the Assembly Commission, pursuant to the response to AQW 53526/11-16, why any monies were paid to Research Services Ireland after the recommendation from the Independent Financial Review Panel that all such payments should cease from 1 April 2012 and how much was paid thereafter.’
“This is a disgraceful episode in the Assembly’s handling of public money, but the situation is compounded if Stormont carried on with these unwarranted payments after Mr McCartan’s panel drew it to their attention.”