North executives warn of rush to centralise after settlement

The chief executives who run the North's public bodies have published a document urging greater decentralisation, accountability, and public involvement in any new Northern Ireland administration.

The Chief Executives' Forum, which comprises over 150 members who run Northern Ireland's local authorities, public bodies and quangos, yesterday called for "wider democracy and greater transparency" in the way people are governed.

In particular the forum expressed concern that any new administration that might follow a political settlement would centralise its powers, excluding the public from its operations.

Sir Charles Carter, a former head of the Northern Ireland Economic Council, suggested that local politicians charged with running the North's affairs - having been without real powers since the abolition of Stormont in 1972 - might be inclined to centralise power in a new assembly.

"But they should be discouraged from going too far down that path," said Sir Charles, who added that government must involve the people of Northern Ireland.

Both he and the chief representative of the forum, Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, warned that people should be conscious of the possibility of politicians not forging a settlement at the talks. But even in the absence of agreement, and with direct rule continuing, there would have to be changes in overall administration to ensure greater local democracy.

Sir Kenneth, former head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, said that, irrespective of the outcome, a better system of administration was required.

He was sure that senior Northern Ireland permanent secretaries would not attempt to "wrap new ministers around their fingers" so that ultimately power would continue to rest in the hands of the civil servants. "No permanent secretary wants a patsy for a minister. What is required is an effective champion," he said.

The document, People and Government - Questions for Northern Ireland, an Cromien. Copies are is available from the Chief Executives' Forum, Lancashire House, 5 Linenhall Street, Belfast BT2.