Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Today my Functioning of Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill completed its journey through Stormont and now goes to Her Majesty the Queen to receive Royal Assent. This is my second Private Member’s Bill to have reached the statue book and addresses many of the flaws which have been exposed by the Cash for Ash scandal.
“Among the provisions which become law as a result of my Bill are:
- bringing SpAds under the NICS disciplinary code – to avoid a repeat of the scandal when disciplinary action was recommended against Stephen Brimstone over his conduct in relation to Jenny Palmer only for the Minister to veto it and Mr Brimstone to get off scot-free;
- bringing complaints against ministers within the competence of the Standards Commissioner – this makes the Ministerial Code enforceable;
- capping SpAd salaries at NICS Grade 5 level– SpAds will no longer be paid in excess of £90,000;
- making ministers both responsible and accountable for their SpAds;
- preventing NICS affording facilitation to anyone other than the officially appointed SpAd – no longer will Sinn Fein be able to get round the law brought in to prevent a repeat of the Mary McArdle scandal by so-called “super SpAds”;
- reducing the number of SpAds in the Executive Office by removing from office any Junior minister’s SpAd – at present only SF has appointed such a SpAd;
- subjecting royal prerogative appointment powers to Assembly control – in 2016 these powers were used to appoint David Gordon as a spin doctor for Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness without any say by the Assembly;
- creating a statutory duty to make and keep proper records of ministerial decisions – addressing a major problem exposed during the RHI Inquiry;
- requiring the making and keeping of records when ministers or SpAds are lobbied – again addressing one of the key issues arising from the Cash for Ash scandal;
- requiring the recording and publishing of ministerial and SpAds’ declarations of interest;
- creating a criminal offence relating to a minister or Spad disclosing official information for the financial or other improper benefit of third parties;
- imposing a statutory duty on departments to provide scrutiny committees with requested documents; and
- imposing a statutory requirement on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to report to the Assembly on a biennial basis on recommendations for improving the functioning of government and proposals for same.
“While it would be easy for someone with my view of the current governmental arrangements in Northern Ireland to just point out the flaws I have attempted to do something to address some of them. I am gratified that these efforts have resulted in success today.”