Another Exposure of Sinn Fein Appointments
18 September 2012
Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Today’s damming report from the CPANI on O’Dowd’s appointments to the General Teaching Council is another indictment of how Sinn Fein Ministers are failing to live up to the required standard when it comes to the issue of Ministerial appointments.
“The Commissioner for Public Appointments highlights how the Sinn Fein department
(i) didn’t fill the posts for almost a year - in spite of the Minister receiving a request that the General Teaching Council members be reappointed - and failed to provide any explanation for this delay;
(ii) failed to provide appropriate training to the appointment panel in clear breach of the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments;
(iii) failed to record any reasons as to the agreed moderated scores for those who were interviewed for the posts in clear breach of the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments;
(iv) failed to record any reason for the Minister’s selection of the three successful candidates, again breaching the Code and
(v) failed to inform the Commissioner for Public Appointments with a copy of the press release announcing the appointments, again breaching the Code.
“When I raised serious questions about the bias against Protestants when it came to ministerial appointments by Sinn Fein/IRA – a pattern which could be seen not only in DRD under Murphy but also in DCAL and the Department of Agriculture – Republicans simply claimed that there was no issue to address.
“Now Sinn Fein have again been found out when it comes to Ministerial appointments.
“The simple truth of the matter is that Republicans are unfit for government. Their manifest bias against Protestants and failure to adhere to even basic standards when it comes to Ministerial appointments is further proof – if it where needed.”
