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Report queries the £57,000 office rent claimed by Paisleys
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
enlargeAn official Assembly report has raised a question mark over the level of rent being claimed from taxpayers for a major DUP advice centre, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal.
The confidential report by Stormont Standards Commissioner Tom Frawley has described the £57,000-a-year sum jointly claimed by Ian Paisley and Ian Paisley jnr as “significantly in excess” of what might be regarded as the normal market rate.
Mr Frawley also finds that no Assembly rules have been broken on the claims and calls for more definitive guidelines to be drawn up for MLAs on office rentals.
His report will also renew attention on Mr Paisley jnr's links with north coast developer Seymour Sweeney. It concludes that these were substantial enough together to warrant a declaration in the Assembly Register of Interests.
The report, which has been seen by this newspaper, is due to be discussed in private by the cross-party Assembly Standards Committee today.
Mr Paisley jnr can seek a personal hearing with the committee, which has the power to reject the Commissioner’s verdicts.
Mr Frawley’s report follows a lengthy investigation into complaints by SDLP Assemblyman Declan O’Loan.
Mr Paisley jnr has robustly defended himself on both the office rental costs and his links with Mr Sweeney, a DUP member.
The substantial advice centre he shares with his father is located at 9-11 Church Street, Ballymena. They moved into it in the summer of 2007.
It was officially revealed last year that their combined rental claims for the office were at a rate of £57,000 a year — some three times higher than the next highest individual MLA total. There are currently no Assembly rules limiting rental value or office size, or any requirement to provide independent valuation.
The Paisleys’ landlord is a company called Sarcon 250.
Mr Paisley jnr has said the rental level was set following professional advice.
As part of his investigation, Mr Frawley consulted with the Government’s Commissioner for Valuation, who cited an estimate of £26,000 to £30,000 a year for the property. However, the Commissioner also stated that the sums actually being claimed were understandable in terms of commercial return. Mr Paisley jnr last year said there was no profit for Sarcon 250 in the arrangements.
Mr Paisley jnr did not respond to Belfast Telegraph inquiries last night. Mr O’Loan said he had not seen the report and had no comment to make.
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is it any wonder the ruling classes stay in control ??
Posted by willie seymour | 29.04.09, 22:54 GMT
The comments of Grace and her ilk reveal that, unfortunately, the people of Northern Ireland are about as ready for mature political debate as they are for real investigative journalism of the type David Gordon gives us. I'm a Unionist (not that that's all that relevant), but when you look objectively at the picture of greed, double and triple jobbing (and salaries), and nepotism in adding family members to the already despicable picture, unless you are blind and/or stupid you cant ignore that a) it is all based on FACT and b) that, although not the only culprits, the Paisleys, the Robinsons, the Dodds, and the McCreas really do hog the trough.
And obviously, Gareth,there are many fine individual MLAs and MPs doing similarly good works for constituents, without the above greed. It's what they're well paid for and in the case of those with principle and public service as their core values, paid one salary, not two or three.
Posted by David | 29.04.09, 20:20 GMT
Gareth/Robbie
It's great they do this sort of work. It want they are employed to do. However to claim £57,000 for rent of a building that is a bit much.
I'm all for good politicians, but I'd like to know what sort of rents a ordinary business would be paying in Ballymena.....
Posted by disgusted | 29.04.09, 15:34 GMT
Grace A, in case you haven't taken notice of the continuing soundbites that the DUP use to ensure media coverage, have a look at the news in this and other newspapers over the last year concerning the DUP.
There is no campaign against the DUP from the Telegraph, in my opinion. The party continue to shoot themselves in the foot by not playing the media game to their advantage.
The media can be played to your advantage or to your disadvantge. I reckon Sammy Wilson could testify to that, for example.
Posted by Ulysses31 | 29.04.09, 14:57 GMT
Gareth, do you think in three years you and your family could have helped your sister out?
Why on earth would i want to be helping people in my 80's, i'll be retired at 50 and be shouting at people in my 80's.
Posted by MiHe | 29.04.09, 14:19 GMT
It is quite an advice centre though...
They were great helping my sister get her replacement grant sorted - livin in a mobile home for 3 years with a child as house was in bad state- Jnr steps in and bingo heads are knocked together and grant comes through....
Doc and Jnr work hard....
See how many of you keyboard warriors are still serving THE PEOPLE in your 80's!
Posted by Gareth | 29.04.09, 13:56 GMT
I live in Ballymena and have been to the DUP office for help with several matters. I must say I recieved a first class outcome on each occasion. Mr Paisley (Jnr) took a real interest in me and took my case forward personally.
This is the work of a constituency office which isn't highlighted. It is priceless.
Posted by Robbie Watters | 29.04.09, 13:40 GMT
Grace, what you need to know is that the dupers faith is money, you can only have one Master Grace, mine is God.
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
Proverbs 30:8-9
Posted by MARK WILSON | 29.04.09, 13:20 GMT
The DUP would never make it as a party in the real world, they are far too controversial with their allegiance to that strange sect of Free P's in hats and long dresses.
I mean £57,000 for a year's rent on offices in Ballymena?? Is this the same Ballymena i know off or is it some posh London suburb, come on this is just immoral, which DUP 'christian' hat wearer could possible justify that.
Posted by MiHe | 29.04.09, 13:16 GMT
Wake up NI! These politicians are having a laugh at the tax-payers expense, but the public is stupid enough to put up with it all. You get what you deserve.
Posted by Mike | 29.04.09, 12:27 GMT
Snouts in the trough! Although that said, at least pigs have charm, grace and intelligence unlike our money-grubbing MLAs and MPs.
Posted by malachy mulligan | 29.04.09, 12:21 GMT
Do the Telegrpah hound other parties or just the DUP?
Complain about this comment
Posted by Grace A | 29.04.09, 09:46 GMT
Grace
doesn't make what they are doing right. Politicians are on the biggest gravy train going. They claim to be honest, but the amounts they can claim in expenses is too much.. Name and shame them all, that's what I say.
Posted by disgusted | 29.04.09, 12:19 GMT
I seem to recall very little being made of a certain UUP MLA claiming for a portacabin on his own land as a consituency office.
Also, very little investigation goes into sitting MEPs and their expenses. Now that, I bet, is a real hornets nest
Ulysses31
where did i mention flat earters and creationists? where did that come from?
Can you not manage to keep on topic without exposing your clear antagonism for anyone who doesnt share your views.
Posted by Grace A | 29.04.09, 11:46 GMT
Perhaps Grace and Darrell has missed the UK articles about MP expenses-the 'Tele' is just following the same commentary about our local MLAs and MPs (the Tele has raised questions about SF's MPs' housing allowance in London despite their policy of non-attendence at the Commons)? Perhaps Grace and Darrell have missed the 'Tele''s articles about education in NI (highlighting the less-than-impressive performance by the SF minister)?
Posted by Nate | 29.04.09, 11:44 GMT
You can't blame the Telegraph for flat-earthers and creationists . You can't blame the Telegraph for bringing news like this about politicians who are totally unapologetic. You can't blame the Telegraph for idiotic sounbites that politicians like to make so that they can access the media.
Finally you can't blame the Telegraph for the contents of an official Assembly report.
The media is there to report news. If you don't like it, maybe you should be thinking about holding your politicians accountable for their actions. If they step out of line the public should know. It's a pity that there is a lack of action to correct or discipline them.
Posted by Ulysses31 | 29.04.09, 11:13 GMT
Yes Grace, see www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/nothing-said-about-rental-of-offices-from-mlas-family-members-14091762.html
Posted by Anne | 29.04.09, 11:07 GMT
We are getting tired of the Belfast telegraph's vendetta against Ian Paisley maybe the southern irish owners should be honest and rename this rag An Poblach
Posted by Darrell Monteith | 29.04.09, 10:42 GMT
Do the Telegrpah hound other parties or just the DUP?
Posted by Grace A | 29.04.09, 09:46 GMT