SDLP to monitor direct rule ministers

Mark Durkan's party said it would monitor NIO ministers

A new campaign intended to keep ministers at the Northern Ireland Office under scrutiny during direct rule is to be launched by the SDLP.

The nationalist party said it hoped that both its campaign and the current return to direct rule would be short lived.

The campaign, to be launched on Tuesday, is to be known as Direct Rule Watch.

The province's power-sharing institutions were suspended on 14 October following a row over allegations of IRA activity, including alleged spying within the Northern Ireland Office.

Brid Rodgers: Concerned some funding decisions frozen

The British and Irish Governments are expected to announce multi-party talks later this week.

However, the SDLP said it was concerned that the Northern Ireland Office would not give all of the money to sectors like health and education promised by former SDLP finance minister Sean Farren.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster, SDLP deputy leader and former agriculture minister Brid Rodgers said: "I understand that some of the decisions that were made on funding have been frozen and we are very concerned about that."

She said the party had "not just a right, but a duty to" monitor the governance of Northern Ireland during the direct rule period "on behalf of the people who elected us".

The SDLP also wants to ensure that action was taken in relation to tightening financial controls at the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, investigating allegations of fraud in the agricultural sector and ensuring proper standards are set by the schools inspectorate.

All these areas were matters of concern to the Stormont Public Accounts Committee, generally thought to have been one of the most effective arms of the assembly before its suspension.

SDLP sources said they would also monitor the performance of Secretary of State Paul Murphy's ministerial team who could expect to face an increased number of written questions at Westminster.