“we are checking protocols to determine if proper procedures were followed”

An odd little story reported by the BBC here – in light of yesterday’s “fragile flower” ruling. Apparently an arranged meeting between East Antrim MLAs Ken Robinson of the UUP, Sean Neeson of the Alliance Party and the DUP’s Sammy Wilson, members of Belfast High School’s board of governors and officials from the Department of Education was cancelled by the Education Minister, Sinn Féin’s Caitríona Ruane, because Sammy Wilson had originally requested the meeting through the Private Office of the Environment Minister. There was an attempt to raise it as a point of order in the NI Assembly. From the BBC report.

In a statement, the Department of Education said: “A point of order was raised in the Assembly this evening regarding a request from the Private Office of the Environment Minister to meet with officials from the Department of Education. “As this was on a constituency matter and not a ministerial matter we are checking protocols to determine if proper procedures were followed, as Departmental Private Offices should have no role in constituency matters.”


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