Jim Allister: Spads code of conduct needs to be made law to right one of the wrongs uncovered by RHI

Stormont Assembly members debated the TUV leader’s proposals for new statute addressing the appointment, conduct and management of the party appointees to aid ministers.

It would remove some of the latitude for interpretation of codes of behaviour which has angered critics of how powersharing is operated like Mr Allister.

Anyone with a serious conviction is prohibited from being a special political adviser at Stormont.

That includes Sinn Fein’s Aidan McAteer, a former prisoner.

He advised the late deputy first minister Martin McGuinness and was given a role whereby he oversaw and managed Sinn Fein’s special advisers but was not on the Civil Service pay roll, the RHI inquiry discovered.

He was employed and paid by Sinn Fein rather than directly from public funds like official ministerial advisers.

Mr Allister asked the Assembly: “If a party was so prepared to deliberately circumvent the law of the land what confidence could anyone have in mere code making them amenable to their interpretation?

“That is a sobering question for this House and it is one that needs to be addressed.”

He added: “This House has an opportunity today to right that wrong and I urge this House not to miss that opportunity.”

Former Sinn Fein finance minister Mairtin O Muilleoir told the RHI inquiry he was unaware of any senior civil servant raising concerns about the arrangement and that he was in contact with Mr McAteer “probably every day” receiving instructions or advice.

Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken said the “lived experience” seen since devolution was restored in January showed change had not been embraced by the Executive.

“It can be said that even after 11 months there has been every opportunity to make change and there has been no attempt or very little attempt by the Executive to reform itself.”

The Functioning of Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is a bit of private member’s business from Mr Allister.

He said codes of conduct for special advisers had “demonstrably failed” and should be replaced with legislation covering matters like pay levels.