'No official engagement’ by Executive Office on Armed Forces Covenant
There has been “no official engagement” by the Executive Office with the Armed Forces Covenant, a Stormont committee has heard.
Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner David Johnstone said it has been indicated to him that correspondence from the Ministry of Defence, Office of Veterans Affairs and the Armed Forces Minister regarding the covenant to the Executive Office “goes into a black hole”.
“It is noted as received and that’s it, it effectively goes into a black hole, and there is never any correspondence back,” he said.
Mr Johnstone gave evidence to the Executive Office scrutiny committee on Wednesday around the Armed Forces Covenant, a promise by government to ensure fair treatment of military and veterans.
He also said that in 15 months in the role he has not as yet had any formal communication or request to meet from First Minister Michelle O’Neill.
Mr Johnstone described the lack of engagement from the Executive Office on the covenant as “disappointing but the reality”.
“In terms of engagement unfortunately there is none officially from the office, hopefully in the future that will change because I think the position is untenable and very difficult to defend in 2026 given the huge contribution that the Armed Forces make here in Northern Ireland,” he told MLAs.
“In Covid times, we relied as a society on the military stepping forward and helping with vaccinations.
“On one hand to accept that help from the Armed Forces when we need it, and then to pretend they don’t exist when it suits, I think is not defendable.
“We will just continue to make what progress we can, and hope that eventually we get to the point that veterans are not discriminated against.”
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston described the situation as “disappointing” and “concerning”, and criticised the “ideology that still remains in republicanism”.
Earlier Mr Johnstone thanked those behind the cross-party motion backing the Armed Forces Covenant in the Assembly last year.
“Us even being here today is evidence of the progress that is being made in Northern Ireland around the covenant,” he said.
“This vote was an encouraging development for the Armed Forces community and reaffirmed the principle at the heart of the covenant, that those who serve, or have served and their families, should not face disadvantage because of that service.
“It is about fairness, it is about understanding and ensuring that members of the Armed Forces community are treated with the respect and consideration they deserve.
“It is not about jumping to the top of waiting lists, it is not about receiving special treatment, it is simply ensuring that there is no disadvantage to those that have served our nation.”
DUP MLA Philip Brett expressed concern at what the committee had heard, and proposed that they request all documents sent by the UK Government regarding the Armed Forces Covenant to the Executive Office.
He also proposed writing to the Mrs O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly requesting they meet the Veterans Commissioner.