COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL

PRESS RELEASE

13 November 2008

F&P 01/08/09

COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE BONUSES TO SENIOR CIVIL SERVANTS

Bonuses for senior civil servants, and the processes used to award them, will be scrutinised by the Assembly Committee for Finance and Personnel.

Chairperson of the Committee, Mitchel McLaughlin, MLA said, “We were alarmed to learn that, in 2007, almost 75% of the 200 senior civil servants received bonuses, amounting to over £1m.

“Our unease over these bonuses is heightened by our concerns with the performance of the senior Civil Service in certain key areas, including in financial management, (especially in view of high levels of departmental underspend), sick absence management and in achieving business targets generally.”

The Committee will take evidence on this issue as a matter of urgency, and has requested updated information from the Department of Finance and Personnel by 21 November.

ENDS

Notes for Editors

1. The Committee for Finance and Personnel is one of 11 Statutory Committees of the Northern Ireland Assembly, which are set up to advise and assist each Northern Ireland Minister in the formulation of policy with respect to matters within his/her responsibilities as a Minister. Statutory Committees have powers as described in Strand One of the Belfast Agreement i.e. a scrutiny, policy development and consultation role with respect to the department with which each is associated, together with a role in the initiation of legislation.
2. As per paragraph 9 of Strand One of the Belfast Agreement, Statutory Committees have the power to:

• consider and advise on departmental budgets and annual plans in the context of the overall budget allocation;
• approve relevant secondary legislation and take the Committee stage of relevant primary legislation;
• call for persons and papers;
• initiate inquiries and make reports; and
• consider and advise on matters brought to the Committee by its minister.

3. Committee Members:
   Mitchel McLaughlin (Chairperson) (Sinn Fein)
   Simon Hamilton (Deputy Chairperson) (DUP)
   Dr Stephen Farry ( Alliance)
   Fra McCann (Sinn Fein)
   Jennifer McCann (Sinn Fein)
   David McNarry (UUP)
   Adrian McQuillan (DUP)
   Declan O’Loan (SDLP)
   Ian Paisley Jnr (DUP)
   Dawn Purvis (PUP)
   Peter Weir (DUP)

Further information on the work of the Committee is available on the Committee pages of the Northern Ireland Assembly website: archive.niassembly.gov.uk

Media enquiries should be addressed to:
Debra Savage,
Press Officer,
Press Office,
Parliament Buildings,
Belfast
BT4 3XX

Telephone 028 9052 1405
Mobile : 07920 864221
Email: debra.savage@niassembly.gov.uk