DUP Announces Further Reshuffle

The DUP has conducted a further reshuffle of its front-line team at Stormont.

Three party MPs, who chair Assembly committees, have stood down.

Strangford parliamentarian Iris Robinson (pictured) will leave her controversial position chairing the Health and Social Services committee.

Mrs Robinson's suitability for the role was called into question when she previously suggested homosexuals could be "cured". She will be replaced by South Down MLA Jim Wells.

MP Willy McCrea will not longer chair the Agriculture Committee, paving the way for Ian Paisley Jr.

Upper Bann MP David Simpson will step aside from the Social Development committee chairmanship, allowing up-and-coming DUP politician Simon Hamilton to take his first high-profile posting.

Newtownards MLA Mr Hamilton was tipped for a junior ministry post, however the role - vacated by Jeffry Donaldson - went to Robin Newton.

Earlier this week it was announced that MPs Nigel Dodds and Gregory Campbell would leave the Executive after the summer recess.

They, along with fellow party MPs - who also sit at the Assembly - are progressively moving away from holding dual mandates, or "double-jobbing".

First Minister Peter Robinson and new Finance Minister Sammy Wilson will be the DUP's only MPs sitting in both Westminster and at the Stormont Executive table.

Mr Robinson said: "I indicated earlier in the week that I proposed to make further changes to the DUP postholders in the Assembly.

"I want to thank the outgoing committee chairs, William McCrea, Iris Robinson and David Simpson, for their work and efforts over the last year."

Several other DUP vice-chairs have been reshuffled, including a promotion for Michelle McIlveen, who will now deputise on Regional Development committee issues.

The Stormont committees are designed to hold Minister to account and scrutinise departmental policy and procedures.

Usually a ministerial department will have cross party representation, for example a unionist minister will be overseen by a nationalist committee chair.

See: Sammy Moves To Finance In Shake-Up

(PR/BMcC)