Conor Murphy ‘should resign if public misled over PPE’: Allister

If Finance Minister Conor Murphy “misled the public” in relation to a consignment of protective equipment (PPE) bound for Northern Ireland, he should resign, Jim Allister has said.
Finance Minister Conor Murphy pictured at Stormont. 
Picture: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker.Finance Minister Conor Murphy pictured at Stormont. 
Picture: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker.
Finance Minister Conor Murphy pictured at Stormont. Picture: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker.

The TUV leader made his comments following claims Mr Murphy announced a deal had been done with authorities in the Republic to secure additional PPE, when no such arrangement was in place.

The latest blow to the troubled NI Executive came after the BBC’s Nolan Show reported that well-placed sources have rejected the minister’s claim.

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As yet Mr Murphy, or anyone from Sinn Fein, has come forward to clarify the position.

Last week, the minister said: “We have agreed a joint order with Dublin and there is procurement going on through the British system as well.

“To be prudent, we want to be sure that if the crisis that is coming our way becomes more severe in Britain and those supply lines across the Irish Sea dry up, then we want our own supply chain here. It is a joint effort.

“The order has been placed and we want it here as soon as possible, and supplied to our frontline workers as soon as possible.”

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Ahead of any clarification from Sinn Fein or the Department of Finance, Mr Allister said it would be “unforgivable” if Mr Murphy had been “giving the public false hope”.

Mr Allister said: “Urgent and unequivocal clarity is now required. If it turns out the public and the Assembly was misled by Conor Murphy, then, he should resign forthwith.”

The TUV leader has also submitted the following written Assembly question:

Priority written Question – “To ask the Minister of Finance a) was there an order placed, in association with the government of the Republic of Ireland, with China for PPE equipment; b) when was any such order placed; c) what was ordered; d) was there a written contract and, if so, who signed it; e) what was the total contract price; f) what was the contracted delivery date; g) what procurement process was followed and who approved it; h) for which departments and services was the equipment intended; i) has such equipment been delivered and, if not, when is it expected; j) was the order approved by the Executive; and k) did the minister mislead the Assembly when on 31 March 2020 he said: “As of last week, we have a joint approach to PPE procurement, the one that is identified in the joint order with the Government in Dublin.”