This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-30204080

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Spotlight: Research Services Ireland got £700,000 in Sinn Féin expenses Spotlight: Research Services Ireland got £700,000 in Sinn Féin expenses
(about 2 hours later)
Sinn Féin MLAs have claimed £700,000 in expenses for research from a company run by the party's finance managers. Sinn Féin MLAs have claimed nearly £700,000 in expenses for research from a company run by the party's finance managers.
The revelations came in a second Spotlight programme looking into MLAs' expenses. The revelations came in a second BBC Spotlight programme on MLAs' expenses.
The programme also found claims of more than £4,000 in heating oil costs for one DUP MLA's office.The programme also found claims of more than £4,000 in heating oil costs for one DUP MLA's office.
Over the last 10 years, 36 different Sinn Féin MLAs claimed £700,000 in total through Stormont expenses to pay Research Services Ireland. One MLA has called on police to investigate what he described as "several aspects of what appear to involve criminality".
Traditional Ulster Voice leader Jim Allister said he would be writing to the chief constable about the issue.
"In particular, the siphoning of public money by Sinn Fein to an apparently bogus research company must be thoroughly investigated, along with potential forgery," he said.
Over the past 10 years, 36 different Sinn Féin MLAs claimed about £700,000 in total through Stormont expenses to pay Research Services Ireland.
Martin McGuinness alone claimed £42,000 over 10 years for the expertise of the company.Martin McGuinness alone claimed £42,000 over 10 years for the expertise of the company.
The company is run by Seamus Drumm and Sinead Walsh, who are in charge of running Sinn Féin's finance department in Northern Ireland.The company is run by Seamus Drumm and Sinead Walsh, who are in charge of running Sinn Féin's finance department in Northern Ireland.
The Spotlight programme was not able to find any evidence of research that had been carried out by RSI, and the party said the research could not be released because it was "too sensitive". The BBC Spotlight NI programme was not able to find any evidence of research that had been carried out by Research Services Ireland (RSI).
The party said that RSI provided a centralised service and that other research facilities could not be used because the work was "too sensitive".
One Sinn Féin MLA said they had never heard of the company until they saw it on their annual expenses.One Sinn Féin MLA said they had never heard of the company until they saw it on their annual expenses.
Five years ago, the police were alerted to the possibility of bogus claims by Sinn Féin to the company, and a meeting was held with two assembly officials. Five years ago, the police were alerted to concerns about expenses claims made by Sinn Féin for work done by the company, and a meeting was held with two assembly officials.
The PSNI decided that an investigation was not necessary. The Police Service of Northern Ireland decided that an investigation was not necessary.
Sinn Féin's biggest claims for payment to Research Services Ireland came after that date.Sinn Féin's biggest claims for payment to Research Services Ireland came after that date.
The former chair of the Westminster Committee on Standards in Public Life, Sir Alistair Graham, believes the issue should interest police.The former chair of the Westminster Committee on Standards in Public Life, Sir Alistair Graham, believes the issue should interest police.
"That sounds to me very near fraud - fraudulent behaviour and I would have thought was a very clear breach of even the current rules in Northern Ireland," he said."That sounds to me very near fraud - fraudulent behaviour and I would have thought was a very clear breach of even the current rules in Northern Ireland," he said.
"And I would've thought was worthy of police investigation.""And I would've thought was worthy of police investigation."
Sinn Féin said that its office cost allowance was used exclusively for assembly and constituency work. Sinn Féin said that its office cost allowance spent with RSI was used exclusively for assembly and constituency work.
Heating oilHeating oil
Meanwhile, the former assembly speaker and DUP MLA Willie Hay claimed £4,355 in one year for his constituency offices heating oil - the cost of heating his offices increased from £265 over a 10-year period. Meanwhile, £4,355 was claimed in one year in the name of the former assembly speaker and DUP MLA Willie Hay for his constituency office's heating oil - the cost of heating his offices increased from £265 over a 10-year period.
Mr Hay's brother-in-law and former office manager has been suspended since Spotlight raised the issue with Mr Hay.Mr Hay's brother-in-law and former office manager has been suspended since Spotlight raised the issue with Mr Hay.
The former speaker now says he cannot comment on the issue as it is now the subject of a police investigation.The former speaker now says he cannot comment on the issue as it is now the subject of a police investigation.
The heating oil company who were named as the recipients of the claim told Spotlight that they had not been contacted by the police about the issue. The heating oil company who were named as the recipients of the claim told Spotlight that they had not yet been contacted by the police about the issue.
Claim formsClaim forms
Each MLA is required to sign their own expenses claim forms. But one former Sinn Fein MLA said an expenses claim form for mileage was signed without his knowledge. Each MLA is required to sign their own expenses claim forms. But one former Sinn Féin MLA said one expenses claim form for mileage was signed without his knowledge.
Davy Hyland was the Sinn Fein MLA for Newry and Armagh between 2003 - 2007 before being deselected by the party. Davy Hyland was the Sinn Féin MLA for Newry and Armagh between 2003-2007 before being deselected by the party.
He does not drive and said that the only mileage he would have accrued would be the journey to and from Stormont, where his wife gave him a lift.He does not drive and said that the only mileage he would have accrued would be the journey to and from Stormont, where his wife gave him a lift.
Sinn Féin said it had no record of such an expenses application.
"Our records, however, do show that no monies were drawn down on any such claim," the party said.
Mr Hyland said he "did not use £19,000 of mileage and I would not have knowingly signed off on that amount".Mr Hyland said he "did not use £19,000 of mileage and I would not have knowingly signed off on that amount".
Sinn Fein said it had no record of such an expenses application. "Our records, however, do show that no monies were drawn down on any such claim"
Questions were also raised in the programme about Ulster Unionist and SDLP expense claims for services provided by their own parties.Questions were also raised in the programme about Ulster Unionist and SDLP expense claims for services provided by their own parties.
The SDLP claimed £10,000 for each MLA to fund their press office. The rules say the money should have been going to benefit constituents.The SDLP claimed £10,000 for each MLA to fund their press office. The rules say the money should have been going to benefit constituents.
The party said "any monies claimed for secretarial expenses or professional advisors…. was spent to enhance the service given to constituents". The party said "any monies claimed for secretarial expenses or professional advisors… was spent to enhance the service given to constituents".
In one year the UUP claimed £84,000 for "support services".In one year the UUP claimed £84,000 for "support services".
Investigative Journalist Heather Brooke said these types of claim were "a way of taking money that the public's given to fund legitimate political expenses and it's recycling them into that political party".Investigative Journalist Heather Brooke said these types of claim were "a way of taking money that the public's given to fund legitimate political expenses and it's recycling them into that political party".
Family members employedFamily members employed
The programme also found DUP MLAs employing a number of family members. Three quarters of all DUP MLAs have at least one relative on the pay roll, including eight wives, and eight sons.The programme also found DUP MLAs employing a number of family members. Three quarters of all DUP MLAs have at least one relative on the pay roll, including eight wives, and eight sons.
Fifty-eight thousand pounds went to members of Robin Newton's family in 2013. With his own salary on top of that, a total of £106,000 from the assembly went into the Newton family in a year. Fifty-eight thousand pounds went to members of Robin Newton's family in 2013, who are employed in accordance with assembly rules.
With his own salary on top of that, a total of £106,000 from the assembly went into the Newton family in a year.
In recent years changes have been made to the way the expenses system operates. Money must now be paid to an MLA's individual bank account, rather than to a party account, as had been the case Sinn Féin.In recent years changes have been made to the way the expenses system operates. Money must now be paid to an MLA's individual bank account, rather than to a party account, as had been the case Sinn Féin.
However, Sir Alistair Graham believes that rather than just changing the system, people and parties should be held to account for past issuesHowever, Sir Alistair Graham believes that rather than just changing the system, people and parties should be held to account for past issues
"It seems to me that what you require here is a pretty root and branch independent investigation to the arrangements in place," he said."It seems to me that what you require here is a pretty root and branch independent investigation to the arrangements in place," he said.
"If there's potentially been a criminal offence or if there's been a serious breach of the rules, then I think there needs to be proper investigation.""If there's potentially been a criminal offence or if there's been a serious breach of the rules, then I think there needs to be proper investigation."