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Stormont's Civic Society Panel paid £3,600 for four meetings

The panel only met four times amid the breakdown of Stormont's power-sharing institutions. Picture by Hugh Russell
The panel only met four times amid the breakdown of Stormont's power-sharing institutions. Picture by Hugh Russell The panel only met four times amid the breakdown of Stormont's power-sharing institutions. Picture by Hugh Russell

A STORMONT panel formed shortly before the executive's collapse to advise on government policy has been paid more than £3,600 for just four meetings.

The six-member Civic Society Panel was set up by the executive in December to examine the programme for government and make proposals.

But amid the breakdown of Stormont's power-sharing institutions over the RHI controversy, the panel only met four times.

The panel had an introductory meeting with ministers in December before meeting once in January and twice in February.

Its January meeting was held on the same day that secretary of state James Brokenshire announced a snap assembly election for March.

Panel members were paid £300 per day or £150 if the meeting lasted 12 hours or less. They also claimed £171.65 in expenses for travel and subsistence.

A panel member was only absent once, meaning the panel received upwards of £3,600 for their four meetings.

The executive selected six people for the Civic Society Panel – Peter Bunting, Julie Andrews, Marie Cavanagh, Hilary Singleton, Majella McCloskey and Janet Williamson.

When the panel was announced by the executive, then first minster Arlene Foster said it was "another example of us getting on with the work".

An Executive Office spokesman said the panel "remains in place but is temporarily suspended until ministers return".

"Minutes of meetings are not publicly available but meetings to date have considered possible areas of work for the panel's future work programme," he said.

"Panel members are paid at a daily rate of £300 pro rata. In total, additional expenses of £171.65 has been paid to the panel members."

The Civic Advisory Panel was a commitment made under the Fresh Start agreement.

It has similarities to the Civic Forum, a 60-person consultative body that was established under the Good Friday Agreement but was mothballed in 2002 amid the suspension of the Stormont institutions.