Who controls Stormont - Pontus Pilate? Meanwhile, First Minister adopts republican lingo
07 October 2011
TUV Leader Jim Allister has hit out at the absence of ministerial control in OFMDFM after being told in an Assembly reply that supplementary guidance on recruiting people with ‘conflict-related convictions’ – which talks about ‘political ex-prisoners’ – was issued without requiring or seeking ministerial approval.
In a statement Jim Allister said, “It takes quite a bit to surprise me about the way Stormont is run, but when I was told such a controversial document issued without ministerial involvement, then it does strain credibility. It might suit, particularly the DUP, to put a bit of ministerial distance between them and such pro-republican jargon, but it does pose the question, Who is running Stormont – Pontus Pilate?
“But, in fact, the situation is even worse, because when asked in my question if the First Minister endorsed such language, I get back an answer, signed by him and O’Dowd, which includes:-
“The supplementary brief uses the terms ‘political ex-prisoners’ and ‘people with conflict-related convictions’. It is recognised that there are a number of interchangeable terms to describe individuals who acquired convictions.’
"So, sadly, the situation now is that Peter Robinson has moved so far with the Sinn Fein agenda that he is comfortable with adopting and endorsing their lingo about ‘political prisoners’. All convicted of terrorist offences were criminals. They were not ‘political prisoners’ and shame on Peter Robinson for buying into and peddling the republican myth.”
Note to editors: Mr Allister's question and the answer received was a follows:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister (i) when the supplementary brief on Recruiting People with Conflict-Related Convictions was issued by their Community Relations Unit; (ii) whether it obtained Ministerial approval; (iii) why it refers to ‘politically motivated' ex-prisoners; and (iv) whether they endorse such language.
The supplementary brief on Recruiting People with Conflict-Related Convictions was issued in the autumn of 2008 in response to feedback from the business community. The aim of that document was to summarise the key principles of the substantive Employers’ Guidance on Recruiting People with Conflict-Related Convictions, which had been issued by OFMDFM in May 2007 prior to devolution and approved by the then Minister of State David Hanson MP. The supplementary brief did not require and did not seek Ministerial approval. It was developed in partnership with the business community and is intended to increase understanding of the principles of the Employers’ Guidance, and clarify any areas of uncertainty regarding its implications for employers.
The supplementary brief uses the terms ‘political ex-prisoners’ and ‘people with conflict-related convictions’. It is recognised that there are a number of interchangeable terms to describe individuals who acquired convictions.
