Government urged to direct civil servants running Stormont departments

The FDA union has expressed concern about the position senior civil servants have been placed in amid the current powersharing impasse.

Concern was expressed about the position senior civil servants have been placed in amid the current powersharing impasse at Stormont (PA) (PA Archive)

The UK Government must intervene and provide ministerial direction to civil servants tasked with making “invidious” political decisions in Northern Ireland, a trade union boss has urged.

General secretary of the FDA union Dave Penman has written to Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris expressing concern about the position senior civil servants have been placed in amid the current powersharing impasse at Stormont.

Mr Penman’s call for a Government minister to instruct civil servants at Stormont would represent a move back towards the controversial direct rule form of governance for the region.