Unionist pair are told to take ‘spat’ elsewhere after heated exchange

TWO unionist politicians were told to have their “spat” at another time after a council meeting became heated.

Tensions simmered at the recent meeting of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon council.

DUP councillor Darryn Causby told members that after 142 days the Health Minister, Robin Swann, had responded to his letter on attendances at funerals.

Mr Causby said the reply took significantly longer than responses received to letters written to other Executive ministers.

“I want to note the correspondence from the Health Minister,” said Mr Causby.

“I do note that when we wrote to the Community Minister it took the grand total of 15 days for a response, the Education Minister took 12 days to respond. The Health Minister has taken 142 days.

“I want to note my disappointment at the length of time it took to get this response and the fact the response does not shine a light on any of the issues we raised at that particular time.”

The Health Minister’s party colleague Alderman Jim Speers said he was awaiting a reply from an Executive Minister himself and was sure it would come in due course but was “not counting the days like Councillor Causby”.

Referencing the time it took the Health Minister to respond to Mr Causby’s letter, Mr Speers said the Health Minister was perhaps busy dealing with other urgent matters.

“The Health Minister was possibly a man that was dealing with the issues that maybe most people would think were slightly more important that replying to a letter which becomes outdated as events move on,” said Mr Speers.

Mr Causby said the matter that was raised in the letter sent in July was also very important.

The issue continued until Lord Mayor Kevin Savage interrupted and said: “You can you have your spat later, I have moved on to the next item on the agenda.”