Outgoing Roy nominatednamesake Matt for Ilex job

The firm was left without a permanent chair for ages between Mr McNulty’s departure and Philip Flynn’s appointment last week.First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness revealed the recommendation of Matt McNulty as caretaker in a joint response to TUV leader Jim Allister.

“Sir Roy McNulty resigned from the Ilex Board in February 2012,” they stated. “Subsequent to his departure, Sir Roy, with the Ilex Board’s support, recommended the appointment of Matt McNulty as interim Chair.

“Departmental officials supported this recommendation and Mr McNulty accepted the position as interim Chair in March 2012.”

Mr Allister also asked the Ministers if the Strategic Investment Board (SIB) - established under the Strategic Investment and Regneration of Sites (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 alongside Ilex - had any role in the appointment.

The Ministers replied: “The Strategic Investment Board had no role in the appointment of Matt McNulty as Acting Chair of Ilex.”

According ot the SIB’s own literature it supports the public sector in the delivery of infrastructure projects.

It has a small Asset Management Unit works with the Executive to implement their Asset Management Strategy.

And it also provides “strategic advice to Ministers on the development and roll-out of the Executive’s infrastructure Investment Strategy (ISNI).

Current projects supported by the SIB are Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 and Titanic Belfast.