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21/01/2010
Iris Lobby Probe Halted
The likely cost of any major investigation into lobbying undertaken by disgraced MP, Iris Robinson has led a Stormont Executive Minister to rule-out any such probe.
A Sinn Féin question in the Assembly has uncovered news that, despite fresh details emerging on lobbying activities by the DUP's Iris Robinson on planning applications involving developers said to have bankrolled her then lover's business, Environment Minister Edwin Poots has ruled out a full trawl of the records.
He said this week that it would involve "disproportionate" costs for his department.
Mrs Robinson lobbied in 2008 for a Newtownards housing scheme linked to builder Ken Campbell, yet, around this same time, she obtained £25,000 from the businessman for her 19-year-old lover Kirk McCambley's new cafe business.
A further £25,000 was received for the cafe from property tycoon Fred Fraser, who has since died.
Yesterday, in reply to the questions from Sinn Féin MLA Daithi McKay, Mr Poots cited three examples of his DUP colleague making representations on specific cases.
These included the proposed Newtownards development which was already a matter of public record, plus a 2005 housing scheme proposal in Comber also linked to Mr Campbell's company.
The Minister also stated that Mrs Robinson made representations on a 2003 application from a Fraser-linked company for a dwelling on land in Newtownards.
(BMcC/GK)
A Sinn Féin question in the Assembly has uncovered news that, despite fresh details emerging on lobbying activities by the DUP's Iris Robinson on planning applications involving developers said to have bankrolled her then lover's business, Environment Minister Edwin Poots has ruled out a full trawl of the records.
He said this week that it would involve "disproportionate" costs for his department.
Mrs Robinson lobbied in 2008 for a Newtownards housing scheme linked to builder Ken Campbell, yet, around this same time, she obtained £25,000 from the businessman for her 19-year-old lover Kirk McCambley's new cafe business.
A further £25,000 was received for the cafe from property tycoon Fred Fraser, who has since died.
Yesterday, in reply to the questions from Sinn Féin MLA Daithi McKay, Mr Poots cited three examples of his DUP colleague making representations on specific cases.
These included the proposed Newtownards development which was already a matter of public record, plus a 2005 housing scheme proposal in Comber also linked to Mr Campbell's company.
The Minister also stated that Mrs Robinson made representations on a 2003 application from a Fraser-linked company for a dwelling on land in Newtownards.
(BMcC/GK)
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