Flags and emblems ban at MLA offices 'ridiculous'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-33407088

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A proposed ban on flags, party emblems and memorials at Northern Ireland Assembly members' offices is "ridiculous" according to Sinn Féin.

It is among new proposals by Stormont's Independent Financial Review Panel.

The panel said the offices are for MLAs to serve their constituents rather than for party political purposes.

However, Sinn Féin's Catriona Ruane said the panel had "gone too far" while Peter Weir of the DUP said it had made "a number of strange proposals".

'Mission creep'

Speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme, Ms Ruane expressed opposition to the panel "telling parties how they can decorate their offices".

"I think they've lost the run of themselves a little bit in relation to that and I think they've strayed into areas that, frankly is the business of the political parties.

"People vote for me and for MLAs and presumably for Peter and his party on the basis of our party. They vote for me because I stand for Sinn Féin, they vote for Peter because he stands for the DUP and frankly I think its slightly ridiculous to say you don't even put the name of your party on a door," she added.

Mr Weir told the programme: "There's been a degree of mission creep by the panel and I think what we've got is something that is quite strange and over the top on that basis.

"I think what we've got to accept is, while everyone will want to ensure that their offices are as welcoming as possible, we're working in a political environment and to simply ignore that defies logic."

'User-friendly'

Speaking on the same programme, the chair of the Independent Review Panel, Pat McCartan, said the public money used to fund MLAs' office came under his team's remit.

"It is business of ours to ensure that rents are properly paid from the public purse so we're putting it out for public views, as to whether or not the offices ought to be user-friendly in the full sense of everybody in the community finding that they could attend any constituency office."

He said the ban was just a small part of a 40-page document which outlines other proposals such as new restrictions on MLAs' rent allowances and mileage claims and a suggestion that politicians should register their attendance at Stormont.