North/South expenditure illegal – Allister
10 April 2009
Traditional Unionist Voice Leader Jim Allister QC MEP has claimed that on-going expenditure by the 6 North/South Implementation Bodies is illegal, because the statutory approval procedures for 2009 have not been followed.
In a statement Mr Allister said:-
“Whereas regular departmental expenditure is annually authorized by the Budget Bill, there is a procedure unique to the North/South Implementation Bodies which must be followed before grants from the respective parent departments to those bodies can be lawfully made. This is clearly set out in The North/South (Implementation Bodies) (NI) 1999. In the case of each the law expressly provides that
“grants shall be of such amounts and be made on such terms and conditions as that Department may, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel, determine.”
This year payments are proceeding to the North/South Bodies without formal DFP approval. Every year the Business Plan of each North/South Body requires both departmental and DFP approval. This year approval has not issued. This is because since I raised with the DFP Minister, several weeks ago, why no efficiency or other savings were being required in the runaway budgets of the North/South Bodies, he has stalled the process and so far attempts to get consent for such savings from the corresponding departments in the Republic have failed. In the resulting deadlock no Business Plans have been approved, yet North/South expenditure is continuing in patent breach of the 1999 Order.
I have now raised the issue with the Audit Office and call afresh on the DFP Minister to act to stop illegal North/South expenditure. At a time of deep economic crisis the amount of money being wasted on north/southery is scandalous. Last year the DUP DFP Minister rubberstamped every extravagant demand from the North/South Bodies, this year – because of my exposure of the matter - the process is stalled, but the lavishing of funds on north/southery continues, though unlawfully. Allowing this to happen is a gross dereliction of duty under the 1999 Order.”
