Friday 18 July 2014 RELEASE: IMMEDIATE Possible withdrawal of funding for HIA Inquiry is politics of the lowest order - Nesbitt Ulster Unionist Party Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA, has called on all the other Executive parties to join with the Ulster Unionist Party in pledging to protect the funding of the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry. Mr Nesbitt said: I understand the First Minister has raised the possibility that the HIA Inquirys future may be in jeopardy because of the failure to agree the finances that form the June Monitoring round. While the Inquiry is dependent on Monitoring funds, it is inconceivable to the Ulster Unionist Party that the Northern Ireland Executive would allow the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry to be wound up early for the lack of resources. Tonight many, many victims will be unnecessarily dismayed and distressed after hearing Peter Robinson say that this outrageous suggestion is even being considered. Coming in the same week the DUP have followed our lead by backing the call for the former Kincora Boys Home to be included in the UK Governments inquiry into child abuse, it is simply mixed messaging of the worst order. The fact that the First Minister would try and introduce this to a public debate is deeply regrettable. I can assure victims of abuse that the Ulster Unionist Party, through our Executive Minister, Danny Kennedy, will be opposing this proposal tooth and nail and I call on all the other Executive Parties to publicly declare that this ludicrous idea will be consigned to the bin where it belongs. To do otherwise will only retraumatise victims who have already suffered enough. There are billions of pounds in the Executive budget and to even consider targeting the funding of the HIA inquiry is politics of the lowest order.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 19:01:47 +0000