Tom Elliott MLA has questioned how Martin McGuinness came to be representing the Northern Ireland Executive at a memorial service in South Africa to honour Nelson Mandela.
Mr Elliott said:
“Who cleared it with the Executive? DRD Minister, Danny Kennedy MLA, made clear that he wasn`t aware of it being discussed. If the First Minister declined to go, did he consent to Martin McGuinness going in his place?
“It is important that we know. Can the deputy First Minister go to events to represent Northern Ireland without being accompanied by the First Minister or without the First Minister`s consent?
“If the First Minister was invited and declined why did he make that decision, or was only one of them invited? I don`t think it is right for Northern Ireland to be solely represented by someone who feels unable to even utter the title of the place.
“If the First Minister couldn’t go because of Executive business, how could Martin McGuinness manage to do so?
“Other questions arise such as, is the deputy First Minister`s attendance at the funeral of Nelson Mandela being funded by the taxpayer? If he is taxpayer funded, who is travelling with him at taxpayer’s expense?”