AQW 3386/16-21

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 19/09/2016
Answered On Date: 11/10/2016
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the rationale for not using the existing provision through their allocation of Special Advisers to accommodate the press secretary role.

Answer:

This is a newly created post, jointly appointed.

The new press secretary is a person providing specialist support to us jointly, hence the use of the prerogative order made by us acting jointly under section 23(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Special Advisers are individually appointed by their respective Ministers.