Givan calls for boycott of meeting due to 'unacceptable behaviour'

The education minister has told his officials not to attend a Stormont committee due to what he called "unacceptable behaviour" by a Sinn Féin assembly member (MLA).

In a letter to the education committee Paul Givan said that the vice-chair Pat Sheehan was "unable to refrain from inappropriate treatment and questioning of departmental officials".

But the committee chair, Alliance MLA Nick Mathison, called the minister's move "unprecedented and unacceptable".

Speaking in the committee on Wednesday, Sheehan said he "absolutely" rejected "any suggestion that I bullied or harassed officials in any way".

"I've spoken to a number of officials and sought advice in regard to that and I'm satisfied, and those officials were satisfied, that any questions I asked were legitimate," he said.

Departmental officials due to be questioned about integrated education on Wednesday will now not appear.

At a previous committee hearing on 23 September, a Department of Education (DE) official had said she was prepared to withdraw from the hearing during questions by Sheehan.

Sheehan had asked Dr Suzanne Kingon from the department a number of questions, including about her social media activity and whether she had been promoted since Givan had become education minister.

"I was interviewed for a temporary promotion by the head of the civil service and the acting permanent secretary and I was successful in an open competition and I'm sure that's what will be advised back by the head of the civil service," she responded.

"And I think the question is a disgrace."

Dr Kingon also told the vice-chair that some of his questions were "entirely inappropriate".

She said that if it continued she and other DE officials would withdraw from the committee.

"It's not inappropriate at all," Sheehan responded.

In a subsequent letter to the committee chair seen by BBC News NI, Givan said that he had instructed officials not to attend.

"It is clear from consistent pattern of questioning from Pat Sheehan over many months that he is unable to refrain from inappropriate treatment and questioning of departmental officials," he wrote.

"I appreciate it would be fruitless to expect at this late point to expect Mr Sheehan to change the habits of a lifetime but as the chair of the committee it is your responsibility to manage proceedings.

"Therefore, until such times as you as chair of the committee can provide written assurances that the committee will not stray off the subject of the briefing; not seek to draw officials to answer questions on personal or personnel matters, I have instructed officials not to attend the committee."

However in a statement the committee chair Nick Mathison called Givan's decision "unprecedented and unacceptable".

"He is playing games with children's education by seeking to stop the committee from holding his department to account at a time when the education system is in a state of chaos," he said.

"This move is about avoiding scrutiny of the big issues at hand, including the ongoing SEN crisis, crumbling school buildings, and a complete breakdown of industrial relations.

"It is not for the minister to try to dictate how the committee conducts its business, and parents and the education workforce will be deeply concerned that our scrutiny role is being hampered so significantly."

The SDLP MLA Cara Hunter said Givan's decision "represents a serious interference with assembly scrutiny."

"The minister's decision here is completely disproportionate and an extraordinary overreach," she said.

"An issue concerning the alleged behaviour of one member has resulted in officials being withdrawn from the entire committee until the chair provides assurances about future questioning."