Jim Allister has welcomed the fact that the first item dealt with in the new Assembly term was the Speaker informing members that Ann’s Law had received Royal Assent.
Commenting the TUV leader said:
“Despite all the foolish claims of some, most notably Sinn Fein, that it was not human rights compliant, the SPAD Bill passed all the rigorous scrutiny of the Attorney General, the Advocate General and the NIO’s lawyers and is now the law of the land. Multiple murderer Paul Kavanagh also faces losing his taxpayer funded job in the near future.
“Henceforth no one can be appointed as a Special Adviser who has a serious criminal conviction. Moreover, the Code of Appointment and Code of Conduct for Special Advisers will be put on a statutory basis and annual reports on their cost must be produced.
“Today’s announcement marks the end of a parliamentary process which began almost two years ago, following the scandalous appointment of Mary McArdle. But for the courage and tenacity of Ann Travers this great wrong would never have been righted.
“I now look forward to the full implementation of Ann’s Law.”
