Ulster Unionist Finance spokesperson Steve Aiken OBE MLA has called for Sinn Fein to clarify exactly who Ted Howell is, given the fact that he seems to have exerted enormous power over one of their former ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive.
Steve Aiken OBE MLA said:
“It was reported in today`s Newsletter that the former Sinn Fein Finance Minister, Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, sought the consent of an individual called Ted Howell before signing a key document about the RHI Scheme. It is incumbent on Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O`Neill to clarify who Ted Howell is, given that it seems an Executive Minister has to go cap in hand to this individual before signing off on an Executive business plan related to RHI.
“The fact that the former Finance Minister, who set great store by his links to the business community and his competency as a company director, has had to seek approval from this unknown individual is deeply concerning. Apart from it being totally unorthodox, it is completely wrong.
“I assume that Ted Howell, whoever he is, wields an enormous amount of power within the republican movement if an elected Sinn Fein MLA such as Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, who has been elevated to the position of being a Minister, feels that he must seek Mr Howell`s agreement before signing off on an official business plan. It also calls into question exactly who is leading and directing Sinn Fein policy. And are Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O`Neill merely back-seat drivers while anonymous individuals within the republican movement pull their strings? While Sinn Fein MLAs may have been physically sitting in Stormont, were Sinn Fein ministers having the real decisions taken by Connolly House?
“It`s bad enough that SPADs seemed to be running about out of control within the Stormont system, but to now learn that a business plan had to be cleared with someone completely detached from the Executive has enormous implications for democratic government.
“It raises serious questions for Mr Ó Muilleoir. The Ministerial Code is very clear: ‘(ck) to accept no authority, direction or control on my political activities other than my democratic mandate alongside my own personal and party judgement.’ Mr Ó Muilleoir is very good at dancing around questions, but on this occasion the public deserve clear and concise answers from him and his party leadership. Are they being directed from Connolly House?”