http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/07/p45s_for_the_relatives.html en-gb 30 Sat 19 Dec 2009 08:52:42 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/07/p45s_for_the_relatives.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/07/p45s_for_the_relatives.html?page=16#comment4 Mark,In this era of honesty, integrity and transparency there is 1 thing in which all MLA's in Northern Ireland must do. I hope the public can support me on this issue. I also hope Mark you can take this forward as you are the Political Editor for the BBC in Northern Ireland. During the time of suspension for nearly 5 years all MLA's still claimed wages and office cost allowances. What must be done now is that all of this money is paid back as members got paid for effectively doing nothing. On the 14th October 2002 John Reid, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland suspended devolution taking effect from midnight on 14 October 2002.In 2002/2003 approx £4 million was spend through wages and office accommodation costs. With the suspension half way through then £2 million could be paid back.In 2003/2004 £7.2 million was spend through wages and office accomodation costs. In 2004/2005 £ 8 million was spend through wages and office accommodation costs. In 2005/2006 £ 8 million was spend through wages and office accommodation costs. In 2006/2007 £ 3 million was spend through wages and office accommodation costs. Devolution was then returned in May 2007.That is a staggering £28 million that has gone out to MLA's. If this money came back to the public purse how many new roads, hospitals and schools could be build? How many new Police Officers could be trained? It would go half way in helping deal with the Swine Flu. It is time MLA's acted to show that money is not their only agenda in Politics.Stormontspy Sat 04 Jul 2009 21:56:46 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/07/p45s_for_the_relatives.html?page=12#comment3 Mark,Did you see the press release from the Northern Ireland Assembly? The Assembly has been recalled this Tuesday so members can hear the June Monitoring Round. This should be fun. Last week we had some pantomine antics between Nigel and Reg. Will this week be a full on show or will it be the usual - dull and boring. Wonder whether Nigel will do it or whether Sammy will read the Civil Service prepared statement. Stormontspy Sat 04 Jul 2009 21:25:26 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/07/p45s_for_the_relatives.html?page=8#comment2 MarkSATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIESThe points I made in Post 1 about honesty and integrity are particularly apposite in light of this report in today's Daily Telegraph about Jeffrey Donaldson.Well, what can we ask old Jeffrey about this one?A thousand questions spring to mind, but if I had the opportunity I would start with this simple question:- Okay, Jeffrey, you are always banging on about the need for truth, so what are the titles of those 68 films that you claimed for on Westminster expenses during all those lonely nights on your own in London?I hope Jeffrey is not going to be bashful in his response. After all, honesty and integrity are the cornerstones of his reputation.SusieCarryduff Sat 04 Jul 2009 19:41:59 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/07/p45s_for_the_relatives.html?page=4#comment1 It should also be made clear that if a relative is employed by an MLA, whether or not they are part-time of full-time and whether or not they have another job. Sat 04 Jul 2009 11:52:44 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/07/p45s_for_the_relatives.html?page=0#comment0 MarkRELATIVE EMPLOYMENT AN ISSUE, BUT NOT THE BIG ISSUEWhatever new rules on expenses emerge from the Sir Christopher Kelly Review will not deal with the real problem which is MLAs/MPs who are dishonest and lacking integrity. The recent revelations in the Daily Telegraph demonstrate clearly that there are many such miscreants.Take an example at random: if an MP has been claiming the maximum four hundred pounds a month in Westminster Food Allowance when not in attendance at Westminster then, by any yardstick, he/she is dishonest QED.In short, if an MLA/MP is a swindler now, he/she will still be a swindler after the new rules have been introduced.SusieCarryduff Thu 02 Jul 2009 16:53:23 GMT+1