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PeopleTranscript
00:00Thank you very much, Chair. I am drawing from the Ministerial Code, which requires Ministers
00:09to observe the highest standards in relation to the stewardship of public funds. We know
00:15that Michael McMonagle was employed by you from March 2020 to May 2020. How many days
00:21a week did he work in your constituency office?
00:24Sorry, Timothy, you know it has to be under the remit of the Executive Office.
00:31This is out of the Ministerial Code that I am drawing directly from. You are the First
00:34Minister. Does this code apply to you?
00:38The Ministerial Code does apply to me, Chair.
00:41Thank you very much. On that basis, how many days a week did he work in your office?
00:44I am not answering questions that are not for this committee.
00:46That is an employment contract.
00:48Are we setting that aside in the Ministerial Code, that that does not apply to the First
00:52Minister? No? How many days a week?
00:57It does not apply to the Executive Office and the functions in this committee.
01:00That is where it all comes down to. This is about confidence in those leading the Government
01:06of Northern Ireland. This is a Ministerial Code that they have signed up to, and there
01:10are questions regarding financial matters, which they signed up to as a Minister.
01:18The financial matters relate to the business of the Assembly Commission. If you have a
01:24complaint in relation to the use of the public funds that are used for the employment of
01:29staff, you should refer those to the Assembly Commission, and or you can go to the Standards
01:34Commissioner.
01:35What I am saying is—
01:36That is correct. I have just received—yes.
01:37It does not relate to this committee.
01:38It does not relate to this.
01:40Looking at it, there are seven principles of public life—integrity, accountability,
01:46openness, honesty and leadership. On that basis, when I have asked you a question of
01:52what happens in your constituency office, you are deciding to duck it. You are deciding
01:56not to answer it.
01:57Timothy, that is not a question.
02:00You cannot separate the two?
02:02You cannot separate the two, because the due diligence in relation to the use of public
02:07funds for employment and office costs is done on the fourth floor of this building, as you
02:12know, and is overseen by independent auditors and accountants.
02:15Time and time again, we have heard that Mr MacMonigal was a press officer from Sinn Féin,
02:22whereas we have the First Minister sitting in front of us here now. The First Minister
02:26has employed this man from March 2020 to May 2020, and there is a serious question about how
02:34the money was spent or paid to him for his services.
02:38The commission?
02:39The First Minister is deciding.
02:40The commission?
02:41She is not wanting to provide any details. How many days a week did he work in your office?
02:47Did he do any work for you, or is it a case of Sinn Féin just using money from your budget
02:52for the political animal?
02:53Timothy, have you referred these matters to the Assembly Commission or the Standards Commission?
02:58This is the TU office, and I have the opportunity, when the First Minister is sitting in front
03:02of me, to ask—
03:03Who is chairing the meeting? Give Paula her place.
03:07Chair, please, thank you.
03:08Thank you very much.
03:09Then we will move on, if that is what you want. If you do not want to follow the ministerial
03:13code, if you do not want to uphold the seven principles of public life, that is a matter
03:17for you.
03:18You are talking about confidence, and you are not doing yourself any justice today—
03:23Sorry, you are badgering a witness. We have gone through this before around the Code of
03:28Conduct Committee members.
03:31First Minister, respond, and then I will let you back in.
03:33All I will say, Chair, is that I take my pledge of office very seriously. I take the use of
03:37public funds very seriously, and I will stand over my role in all of those things.