Ulster Unionist Economy spokesperson Sandra Overend MLA has expressed her amazement at the Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland’s description of a question about an alleged £18 million overspend by the Housing Executive as “somewhat irrelevant”. 

 Mrs Overend said:

 “At Question time in Stormont I asked the Minister for Social Development to detail what discussions he had with John McPeake before, during and after his resignation from the post of chief executive in the Housing Executive.

In his response Mr McCausland said that he had “no discussions with Mr McPeake on that matter” that “Mr McPeake is employed by the Housing Executive and …therefore, his resignation was tendered to his employer, the Housing Executive.”

I then asked the Minister to detail “whether his much-vaunted overspend figure of £18 million, which now looks decidedly inaccurate and for which this House and the companies concerned might eventually be owed an apology, played any role in any discussions that he had or that others may have had on his behalf with Mr McPeake prior to his resignation?”

To my amazement, Mr McCausland replied that because “as I said that there were no discussions with Mr McPeake …the supplementary is somewhat irrelevant.”

Perhaps not surprisingly, the Minister conveniently chose to avoid my question as to discussions that “others may have had on his behalf.”

Whatever the Minister may think, I certainly do not regard as “irrelevant” the question as to whether or not he may have incorrectly told the House that several firms involved in planned maintenance were over-paid to the tune of £18 million by the Housing Executive. These firms were barred from receiving any new contracts as a result, and that disbarment has potentially caused financial loss to these firms which could lead to legal action.

This issue will not go away no matter how inconvenient the truth may be for Nelson McCausland.”