Northern Ireland

DUP's William Humphrey to lead Stormont scrutiny of NI's finances

DUP North Belfast MLA William Humphrey. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA
DUP North Belfast MLA William Humphrey. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA DUP North Belfast MLA William Humphrey. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA

A SENIOR DUP assembly member is to spearhead scrutiny of Northern Ireland's public finances.

William Humphrey, an MLA for North Belfast, will chair the powerful Public Accounts Committee at Stormont.

The chairpersons and deputy chairpersons were confirmed yesterday for a series of the assembly's scrutiny committees which will oversee Stormont's work.

Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken will head the assembly's Finance Committee.

Sinn Féin's Caoimhe Archibald was appointed chairperson of the Economy Committee.

"Brexit is a very challenging time for our economy, for families and businesses across the north," the East Derry MLA said.

"Facing this uncertainty, and in view of the historic challenge to prevent climate breakdown, we must take meaningful action to create a fairer and zero-carbon economy through a just transition."

The new Justice Committee chairman will be Paul Givan, a DUP assembly member for Lagan Valley.

Mr Givan was communities minister in the last Stormont executive. His decision as minister to scrap a gaeltacht bursary scheme was cited by Sinn Féin as among the key reasons for the collapse of power-sharing three years ago.

On his new post, Mr Givan said: "I look forward to playing my part in delivering the necessary reforms needed for Northern Ireland to lead the way in the fight against crime to make our country a stronger and safer place."

Sinn Féin's Colm Gildernew was appointed chairperson of the Health Committee, and Alliance's Chris Lyttle became chairperson of the Education Committee.

The Infrastructure Committee's new chair is the DUP's Michelle McIlveen, who has previously been the minister in charge of infrastructure.

Sinn Féin's Declan McAleer will lead the Agriculture Committee, while the DUP's Paula Bradley was appointed chair of the Committee for Communities.

The SDLP's Daniel McCrossan became chairperson of the Audit Committee and his party colleague Colin McGrath is to head the Committee for the Executive Office.

The DUP's Mervyn Storey was appointed chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, while Sinn Féin's Carál Ní Chuilín will lead the Procedures Committee.

Sinn Féin MLA Sinéad Ennis was appointed chairperson of the Standards and Privileges Committee, which will examine issues such as MLA conduct.