Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-

“Though tempered by the context of every minister and Spad walking away scot free from the RHI debacle, confirmation that the totality of ‘discipline’ within the NI Civil Service was a single written warning for just one civil servant is a shocking indictment of the patent inadequacy of the Civil Service disciplinary processes.

“We all heard the damming evidence of repeated failures by civil servants (and SpAds and ministers), yet the official NICS and Executive response is to tell us that only one civil servant deserved the trivial rebuke of a written warning.

“Probably the most brazen aspect is that two Permanent Secretaries had all charges dropped and both retired not just on full pensions but with the ability to return to give consultant advice!

“Many ordinary workers who face rigorous investigation in their jobs will rightly marvel at the outcome within NICS of the RHI saga!

“As a member of the Assembly’s Finance Committee I will continue my pursuit of this matter.”