This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards,but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.

Skip to content....

text size: Decrease text-size Increase text-size

Skip to content....

Where now the promise of caring, sensitive government under devolution? - Allister

11 August 2011

TUV Leader Jim Allister MLA has labelled the behaviour of the Department of Justice over the Police Reserve Gratuity as ‘a disgrace’.

In a statement Mr Allister said:-

“David Ford’s intransigent holding to an arbitrary, ill-publicised deadline, which is adding immense hardship to one of the most deserving sections of society, throws into sharp relief all the heady promises about the value of devolution. Weren’t we repeatedly told how local politicians in charge would bring caring, sensitive government? Direct rule at its worst wouldn’t have taken as cruel a stance as that which Ford is clinging to.

“For someone who preaches flexibility in politics he is being remarkably intransigent.

“Moreover, he is a cheer leader for a process littered with broken deadlines. Strange how David Ford found breaches of decommissioning deadlines by the Provos and others acceptable, but holds those they were trying to murder to the letter of his artificial deadline when it comes to a gratuity recognition of their valiant service. His stance is an utter disgrace.

“In addition to continuing to lobby for those ex Reservists who have approached me I will be urging them to refer the matter to the Ombudsman as maladministration because of the inadequacy of the publication process, the lack of serious effort to contact those who had served - though their contact details were obtainable – and the absence of an accessible and serious appeal process. There may also be scope for a judicial review challenge.

“This issue must not be allowed to rest till justice is done.”

back to list 

NI politics