Ulster Unionist MLA Robin Swann, who is also Vice Chair of the ad hoc committee formed to scrutinise the equality aspects of Welfare Reform, has hit out at OFMdFM after it emerged that representatives from the Department’s equality unit have still not responded to the committee’s call for evidence.
The Ulster Unionist said:
“The evidence which will be presented by OFMdFM’s equality unit will be crucial to our scrutiny of the Welfare Reform Bill. Given the enormity of the impact of the Bill on Northern Ireland, the failure of the equality unit to come before the committee thus far is totally unacceptable.’
“I have asked that we write directly to the First and deputy First Minister, asking them to instruct their equality unit to appear before the committee as soon as possible. The clock is ticking on how long we have to carry out our scrutiny of how the Bill conforms to equality requirements.’
“If we are not provided with all the information we need to carry out effective and appropriate scrutiny then forming of the ad hoc committee will have been a waste of time.’