"The Cost of Division" Report and Victims' Commissioner

Speech by David Ford questions the First Minister delivered to Assembly on Mon 8th Oct 2007

Mr Ford asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to indicate when the Deloitte Touche report on 'The Cost of Division - A Shared Future Strategy' will be published on the Department's website.

The First Minister: The report was commissioned, conducted and finalised during direct rule. Copies of the report have already been placed in the Assembly Library and have been made available to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and to other Members. Furthermore, if anyone contacts OFMDFM for a copy of the report, it will be provided as quickly as possible. Our Department has no plans for formal publication.

Mr Ford: Since the report is not available elsewhere, I advise Members that it has been provided on the Alliance Party website, should they wish to see it. Is the failure to publish the report not a further example of the failure and inability of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to agree on difficult issues? For example, we have seen today their failure to announce movement on the appointment of a victims' commissioner, which is another key aspect of a shared future. The way that that announcement was made showed absolute contempt for the Assembly, for victims and for people who had applied in good faith for the post.

The First Minister: I resent what the Member has said, and I challenge him to prove that we are insulting victims. We are trying to find the best possible way to find the best possible person to do the job.

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[Hansard]