Determination of Ministerial Offices

Part of Report Of First Minister (Designate) And Deputy – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:45 pm on 16 February 1999.

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Photo of Edwin Poots Edwin Poots DUP 2:45, 16 February 1999

There are more experienced Members in the DUP, and a young man like me would not have the opportunity to do that just yet. Mr Kennedy would have a much better chance of being called to serve in the Ulster Unionist Party, given the depths of talent there.

With regard to the Civic Forum, the victims have been annihilated. They are getting two seats, and the community groups are getting 18 seats. These groups have been infiltrated in many areas by paramilitaries. We will have more paramilitaries represented in the Civic Forum than we will have victims. Those who decided on these numbers should hang their heads in shame today. They have trampled on the victims and their feelings.

Agriculture is not to be adequately represented in the Civic Forum either. I express concern as to how the church nominations will be filled. We have the great and the good church leaders who have always said what the Government have desired. I would like to see the evangelical churches, which are not recognised properly by the BBC and other television and radio companies, also get seats.