Mike Nesbitt, Ulster Unionist MLA for Strangford, has written again to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, disputing the grounds on which James Brokenshire MP is refusing to make an immediate interim payment to the victims and survivors of institutional abuse as recognised in the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry.
This is in response to the Secretary of State writing to Mr Nesbitt to say that he ‘does not intend to set any new policy directions in devolved areas while the possibility of a political settlement restoring the devolved institutions remained open.’
Mr Nesbitt argues an interim payment is not a new policy and has challenged James Brokenshire MP to identify any potential member of a future Executive who would disagree with the Hart Inquiry`s conclusion that redress is both desirable and required, or who would claim that the Secretary of State making an interim payment would usurp any decision making powers for any future Executive.