McCausland Denies Planning Allegations

Housing Minister Nelson McCausland is appearing before the Social Development Committee at Stormont to face questions over a BBC Spotlight programme that alleges political interference in the running of the Housing Executive.

Last night's programme broadcast an interview with DUP councillor and Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) board member Jenny Palmer, who alleges she was pressurised by the DUP to change her vote at a board meeting.

The meeting in July 2011 was to discuss the Housing Executive's contract with the Red Sky maintenance company.

The contract had been terminated four months previous, following allegations that the company had overcharged for its NIHE contracts.

A vote was then put forward regarding a request from Minister McCausland to extend the contract.

But Ms Palmer said Mr McCausland's political special adviser, Stephen Brimstone, asked her to vote against the board's decision to refuse the Minister's request.

The DUP and Nelson McCausland have strenuously denied the allegations and the party says it will be pursuing legal action against the BBC.

Sinn Féin Chairperson of the DSD Committee Alex Maskey said the revelations could amount to "the most serious political scandal since the Assembly came into operation in 1998."

He said: "Allegations of serious bad practice, the misleading of the Assembly and of the Committee have amongst others been levelled at Mr McCausland. Those very serious charges will not simply go away.

"People both in the Assembly and indeed the wider community will be demanding answers from the Minister and his party about their conduct. Tonight I have already been in contact with Assembly officials to summon Mr McCausland to appear in front of the DSD Committee tomorrow in Stormont."

Alliance Social Development spokesperson Judith Cochrane said: "This Spotlight investigation has raised some very serious questions. Nelson McCausland must provide answers to these issues and release any relevant information.

"It would be normal practice in Westminster for a Minister to stand aside temporarily if serious questions are raised of their actions, Nelson McCausland should consider doing so while any investigation takes place by the Assembly Commissioner for Standards.

"The Assembly and the public have a right to hear from the Minister on these issues. I believe we should consider a special recall of the Assembly for him to make such a statement."

Leader of the Green Party in Northern Ireland Steven Agnew added: "This journalistic expose of the behind the scenes dealings of senior DUP Executive politicians on behalf of a discredited private company raises some very serious questions.

"Those questions need to be answered openly and honestly and in a timely way if the public are to have any kind of trust in our political system."

Mr Agnew continued: "Given the recent power grab by the DUP in regards to the Planning Bill where OFMDFM will be able to call the shots regarding designated economic zones, complete financial transparency is now essential.

"Quite simply, there can be no democracy without transparency."

(IT/JP)