‘I didn’t use Ministerial car canvassing for McGuinness’ O’Neill

AGRICULTURE Minister Michelle O’Neill says she didn’t use her Ministerial car and was not assisted by any Departmental officials whilst canvassing on behalf of Irish Presidential candidate and Sinn Féin colleague Martin McGuinness at the recent National Ploughing Championships in Kildare.

UUP leader Tom Elliott asked whether she had use of her car and whether any of her Departmental officials who accompanied her to the Championships were canvassing on behalf of Mr McGuinness.

She stated: “No, I did not have use of my Ministerial car inside of the National Ploughing Championships. No Departmental officials were canvassing on behalf of Mr McGuinness.”

She told Traditional Unionist Voice MLA she would not be reimbursing the public purse for the trip stating: “As Minister, I am invited each year to the National Ploughing Championships.

“In September 2011, I spent three days at this event carrying out Ministerial duties. On Tuesday 20th, I had 2 hours of free time allocated in my diary, during which I decided to accompany Mr McGuinness on a short tour of the site as part of his campaign for the Irish Presidency. There was no cost to the public purse.”

The Minister attended the 80th National Ploughing Championships in her Ministerial capacity in order to meet with farmers, rural business owners, farming and political representatives from across Ireland and said the visit provided her with a greater insight into the opportunities and challenges facing the agri-food industry and rural businesses.