Alliance demands disclosure on St Andrews side deals on local government reform

11.56.46am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 20th Oct 2006

Antrim Alliance Councillor, Alan Lawther

Antrim Alliance Councillor, Alan Lawther, has demanded that any side deals done on the Review of Public Administration at St Andrews last week be made public. At an Antrim Council meeting yesterday he requested that the council write to the Northern Ireland Office to gain access to all secret documents from St Andrews on the RPA. His demand comes after Alliance Leader David Ford secured unanimous support in the Preparation for Government Committee for an Alliance proposal to gain access to all secret documents and correspondence from the St Andrews talks.

Cllr Alan Lawther said: " At council yesterday, I requested that they write to the NIO to find out about any side deals done on the Review of Public Administration during last week's St Andrews talks.

"This will help blow the lid off any side deals done on RPA at St Andrews last week.

"The public has a right to know about any side deals done in St Andrews and we will do all in our power to seek the truth for everyone in Northern Ireland.

"If we find out about side deals now, it will save time on everyone's behalf because we will be able to see the direction in which government is moving on the RPA. The Review of Public Administration has far-reaching consequences for Northern Ireland; therefore, there must be openness and transparency on this matter."

ENDS