Statement by TUV Alderman Sharon McKillop:
“I welcome the decision of Causeway Coast and Glens Council to register its opposition to the excessive squander of taxpayers’ money on Special Advisers. Last week the council voted in 16 to 14 in favour of a motion which voiced displeasure at the decision of the DUP and Sinn Fein/IRA to team up and kill off a Bill proposed by TUV in the Assembly which would have capped the cost and reduced the number of SpAds at Stormont.
“Unsurprisingly the motion was opposed by the DUP and Sinn Fein/IRA, with even an attempt made to kill it off before debate reached the council chamber. However, due to support from all other parties on the council the motion passed.
“Speaking on the issue at the Corporate Policy Committee last week I summed up my approach to this issue:
“I fully support this motion but would make an amendment as it’s not just the inflated salaries that we should be disputing but the number of Spads which we have at Stormont.
“I’m glad that the member agrees with the principles of Jim Allisters private members Spad Bill. However as we know the DUP and Sinn Fein/IRA joined together and blocked my party leaders bill which would have tackling the appalling waste of tax payers money.
“Northern Ireland, the smallest of the devolved regions, has more SpAds (19) than either Wales (8) or Scotland (14). Indeed, one department, the Office of the Joint First Ministers, will continue to have as many as the entire Welsh government.
“These SpAds are costing the Northern Ireland tax payer over two million a year. Each SpAd in Northern Ireland costs over £100,000 a year where as in Wales the average cost is £58,500.
“This money would be best spent on our essential services.
“We all know that this motion won’t make any difference at Stormont but it will highlight – and rightly so – the mentality of DUP and Sinn Fein/IRA and the absences of accountability at Stormont; they have shamelessly abused their positions for their own self gain without consideration of the people they are meant to be governing.
“It is worth noting that while Sinn/IRA claim their SpAds only get the average industrial wage the remainder goes back into the party, not back to the public. Clearly Sinn Fein did not relish losing out as a party as a result of Jim Allister’s private members Bill progressing.”