Joint heads to face Stormont questions

The joint heads of Northern Ireland's new power sharing executive Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness will face questions today…

The joint heads of Northern Ireland's new power sharing executive Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness will face questions today from Assembly members together for the first time since taking power.

First Minister Paisley and Deputy First Minister McGuinness are to brief their Assembly scrutiny committee on plans for a programme for government.

Until now, the Rev Paisley is the only one to face questions from MLAs, during Question Time on the floor of the House.

Mr McGuinness will take on that role next Monday.

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The appointment of a Victims Commissioner capable of commanding the confidence of victims of republican, loyalist and security force violence will be one of the most tricky decisions the DUP First Minister and Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister will face.

The choice of the previous Interim Victims Commissioner Bertha McDougall by Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain was highly controversial and challenged in the courts by Brenda Downes, whose husband Seán was killed by a Royal Ulster Constabulary plastic bullet in 1984.

Mrs Downes claimed the appointment of Bertha McDougall was a political one. Mrs McDougall was allowed to complete her work despite a High Court judge's reservations about how the appointment were made.

She recommended in a report in January that there should be a more flexible fund for victims to replace the Memorial Fund and the setting up of a victims' forum.

PA