Rigorous new vetting measures for civil servants

The Northern Ireland Office has announced they will be introducing tough new security measures following the discovery of an alleged IRA spy ring within the Northern Ireland Office.

The Security Minister Jane Kennedy announced yesterday the government would be instigating a thorough and comprehensive review of security vetting arrangements in Northern Ireland due to "recent events”.

Ms Kennedy said: "Our aim is to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to protect national security while at the same time meeting our human rights and other statutory obligations.

"Clearly recent events have given the issue of security vetting an added focus and the Review will need to take into account the results of current enquiries."

However, the SDLP's deputy leader Brid Rodgers voiced her concerns over the move and said the party would be approaching the government and the Equality Commission over the announcement.

She added: "The folly of republican attempts to penetrate the NIO is clear. Not only did it play right into the hands of the anti-Agreement politicians who wanted to collapse the institutions, it is also threatening to hinder the creation of a civil service representative of all parts of the community."

Last month it was revealed that the police had broken up a suspected IRA intelligence gathering operation in Belfast, which involved searches of premises at Stormont and the Northern Ireland Office.

Four people, including Denis Donaldson, head of Sinn Féin's administration at the Northern Ireland Assembly, were charged after police seized documents in raids on republican homes.

Speaking yesterday the Security Minister said: “There are often difficult balances to be struck in this area which is why the government attaches particular importance to the Review addressing all aspects of what is a complex and sensitive issue.”

(AMcE)