While our politicians have much to occupy them at the present time – including the economic crisis and a backlog of pertinent issues following a much publicised political impasse – the welfare of feral cats within the grounds of Stormont has been brought to the attention of an Executive minister.

However, as SDLP representative Thomas Burns explained, he had a legitimate reason for raising the all-important matter.

"The origin of the question (to Finance Minister Nigel Dodds] was that there was a mouse seen at Parliament Buildings recently," the South Antrim MLA said.

Although the rodent has not been spotted since the intervention of pest control measures, the incident prompted Mr Burns to query if Parliament Buildings had its own skilled predator on the premises.

Mr Dodds said: "The Department of Finance and Personnel is aware that there is a small feral cat population within the Stormont estate.

"The department has no arrangements in place to look after the welfare of the feral cats although officials within the Stormont estate are aware of a group of current and past civil servants who feed the cats on a regular basis."

Speaking to the News Letter, Mr Burns expressed surprise there was no resident cat at Parliament Buildings given that Downing Street and the White House both have a feline presence.

When asked if he would be setting out a saucer of milk at the back door of Parliament Buildings, the SDLP man quipped: "There's no milk here for us to leave out for them."