Following answers given by the First Minister in the House yesterday being contradicted by information that has been released by the Assembly authorities, I have serious questions that Sinn Féin can no longer duck. Those include questions on the possible misappropriation of public funds; the accuracy of official financial documentation and paperwork submitted to the Assembly; and, indeed, the possibility that the House was misled.

On the first question, the misappropriation of public of funds, the First Minister, in the House and in public statements, has consistently described Michael McMonagle as a Sinn Féin press officer. Information released yesterday by the Assembly contradicts that. To quote the Assembly spokesperson:

"Michael McMonagle was employed by Michelle O'Neill MLA from 2 March 2020 to 31 May 2020 and then by Jemma Dolan MLA from 1 June 2020 to 8 July 2022".

The rules for MLAs employing staff are very clear. All Members of the House are required to follow part 4 of the Assembly Members (Salaries and Expenses) Determination (Northern Ireland) 2016, as amended by the Assembly Members (Salaries and Expenses) (Amendment) Determination (Northern Ireland) 2020, which makes it clear that staff employed by MLAs cannot engage in party political activity and that our political parties cannot benefit from that funding. If Mr McMonagle was a Sinn Féin press officer as the First Minister claims that he was, while he was being paid as a full-time constituency worker, that would be a clear breach of Assembly rules.

Each year, all Members are required to sign the MF12 form, of which Members will be aware. That form clearly states that we, as MLAs, have abided by the determination. The First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, will have signed that form in April 2020 when she employed Mr McMonagle on a full-time basis. Jemma Dolan MLA will have signed it in April 2021 and April 2022 when Mr McMonagle was in her full-time employment. How could that form have been signed correctly if it was claimed that he was an MLA support staff worker, when, as the First Minister made clear to the House, he was a Sinn Féin press officer?

On the serious issue of misleading the House, the First Minister stated that Sinn Féin suspended Mr McMonagle from its employment. How could Sinn Féin suspend Mr McMonagle when he was not an employee of Sinn Féin? The Assembly record is clear that he was an employee of Jemma Dolan MLA. It would have been her job to suspend him, as political parties have no role in the appointment or dismissal of staff.

The First Minister was clearly not accurate in her answers to the House yesterday and needs to come forward immediately to correct the record.