You are here

McDevitt: Minister has key questions upon his return

SDLP DRD spokesperson Conall McDevitt has said Conor Murphy has two key questions to answer upon retuning to his desk on Monday.

Mon 23rd August

Mr McDevitt, a member of the Stormont DRD Committee, said: “I welcome the minister’s return to his desk. He has a very challenging task ahead in maintaining the public’s confidence in the DRD’s ability to manage the many issues that have arisen in recent weeks. The SDLP always support any steps taken in order to protect public confidence in public services.

“However, key questions still have to be answered by the minister. In supporting the PAC inquiry and acknowledging that there’s an internal inquiry into Mr Priestly’s actions, key questions still remain; what specific information lead Conor Murphy to lose confidence in his Permanent Secretary and does Conor Murphy still believe in and have confidence in the IRT report and, subsequently, was he right to sack the four non-executive directors.

“The minister has a job of work to do and the SDLP believes that he must address these issues as a matter of urgency.”