Allister corrects DFP Minister's spin
09 September 2009
Statement by Jim Allister QC, TUV Leader
"Sammy Wilson's statement urging "efficiency savings" on the wasteful North/South bodies is welcome, if belated. However, it is utterly disingenuous when it says, "The DUP has consistently highlighted the importance of this issue. In the Assembly the DUP took a lead on urging efficiencies on bodies that fall under the remit of the North-South Ministerial Council."
The facts show that this statement is utterly removed from the truth.
In 2007/08 the DUP Finance Ministers rubber-stamped every financial demand of the north/south bodies, with no questions asked. It was only when I raised the issue in December 2008 that the DUP eventually woke up: http://www.jimallister.eu/default.asp?blogID=1291 Only, then, upon my probing did the DUP even think of "efficiency savings" within these useless bodies. This, then, resulted in DFP declining to approve business plans for these bodies because "efficiencies" had not been addressed. It is in pursuit of this TUV provoked quest that Minister Wilson has now been pressing his southern counterpart.
As previously explained http://www.jimallister.eu/default.asp?blogID=1516 http://www.jimallister.co.uk/default.asp?blogID=1646 I continue to believe that without approval of their business plans the on-going expenditure of these bodies is unlawful. Sadly, the Minister remains unwilling to address this issue."
