Debate contribution: Public Appointments: Conflicts of Interest

Debate contribution by Dr Caoimhe Archibald on 21 April 2026.

MLA: Dr Caoimhe Archibald
Party at the time: Sinn Féin
Date: 21 April 2026
Type: Debate contribution (made as a minister)
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Public Appointments: Conflicts of Interest
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5497877

Text

I thank the Member for his question. It was a ministerial appointment, so I would not recuse myself from that. During my time in the Department of Finance and the Department for the Economy, I have made many appointments. I can assure the Member that the political allegiances or background of any candidate play no part in it. I engage in my role with elected representatives, former elected representatives and former party staffers across a range of agencies and lobby organisations. I have appointed people to different boards, and their political allegiance has played no part in that whatsoever. I appointed a former UUP MLA to the Fiscal Council. Nobody raised any questions about that. The issue here is that a process was followed and followed properly. I stand over it entirely.

132 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Awaiting analysis

This record has not been analysed yet. It is not counted in any total until it has been assessed.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification