Public consultation in Northern Ireland should be streamlined to save money, the First Minister said today.
The Civic Forum of businessmen and voluntary groups was intended to influence government policymaking but cost £500,000 a year to run when sitting regularly and has not met since 2002. A review of the organisation is almost complete.
Peter Robinson said community involvement was important but should not carry such a heavy price tag.
“I do believe that they should look at the whole issue of consultation and not just in relation to the Civic Forum but we need to streamline and have a more effective way of operating and some of the delays that are occurring because of
the lengthy consultation and sometimes unnecessary levels of consultation I think we must look at in the new mandate,” the DUP leader said.
Part of the Good Friday Agreement provided for the establishment of a Civic Forum, comprising representatives of the business, trade union and voluntary sectors, to act as a consultative mechanism on social, economic and cultural
issues. The forum first met in 2000.
The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) later announced a review of the body, which is being finalised.
Mr Robinson was responding to a question from DUP MLA Jonathan Bell.
The First Minister said: “I want there to be consultation, I think it is important that we do have a connection with the community and particularly with those who have an expertise in the issues we are dealing with.
“We can manage to have that consultation and the value of the advice without the expensive machinery that the Civic Forum was suggesting beforehand.”
PA