Northern Ireland

DUP councillor urges review of whether Catholic reps should declare faith to avoid ‘conflict of interest’

Councillors in the north are required to declare memberships of organisations that may influence decision-making

A unidentified pensioner shows her Rosary beads at her home in May 2009. A report has raised concerns about child safeguarding practices in three orders. Picture by Paul McErlane
A DUP councillor has urged a review of whether Catholic members of Newry, Mourne and Down Council should mention their faith on a Declaration of Interest form.
By Donal McMahon

A DUP councillor in Co Down has raised concerns over Catholic councillors not declaring their faith as a potential conflict of interest.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s (NMDDC) audit committee will now review its policy on the matter.

All councillors in Northern Ireland must state any membership of organisations they have that could potentially influence their decision-making at meetings.

Councillors who identify a conflict of interest on an agenda item during a committee meeting leave the chamber while the matter is being debated and voted on.

DUP councillor for the Rowallane area, Callum Bowsie, asked for “guidance” on the issue at a recent meeting of the audit committee.

“I noticed when it comes to church membership, it is something that by and large isn’t done, particularly within or if you’re a member, associated or affiliated in any way with the Catholic church,” he said.

DUP Newry, Mourne and Down councillor Callum Bowsie.
DUP Newry, Mourne and Down councillor Callum Bowsie.

“But it is something that those with membership of a Protestant church are putting down. I just feel that this could be an issue if a matter came before a committee, and there is nowhere on a Declaration of Interest out of 41 members, that anyone has stated if they have any influence or affiliation with that institution.

“An institution that we know has a huge amount of estate in the district, as well as ownership and management of churches.”

Downpatrick SDLP councillor, Gareth Sharvin, told the meeting: “Within the Catholic Church, you’re not seen as a member, you are a parishioner who attends Mass if you so wish.

“Potentially, if someone sat on the finance committee of a particular parish, that is seen as a role.

“But if you attend Mass, you may be attending a service, but not contribute anything to the collection.

“So, how do you identify someone that is a member of the Catholic church?

“Someone like myself who does go to mass regularly, I am seen as a member, but I don’t sit on any committees within my parish.

“So I don’t see that as a conflict of interest, because I don’t have a position of any decision-making within the Catholic church. I think that has always been the guidance that I have always followed.”

Committee chairperson, Brona Slevin, told members the council “will come back” on the issue.