This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37193602

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Foster on Nama scandal: Ó Muilleoir 'should have stepped aside' Foster on Nama scandal: Ó Muilleoir 'should have stepped aside'
(about 1 hour later)
First Minister Arlene Foster has said Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir should have temporarily step aside over the Nama coaching scandal.First Minister Arlene Foster has said Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir should have temporarily step aside over the Nama coaching scandal.
Stormont's Finance Committee wrote to Mr Ó Muilleoir this week asking him to step down during an investigation.Stormont's Finance Committee wrote to Mr Ó Muilleoir this week asking him to step down during an investigation.
The move follows allegations its former Sinn Féin chairman coached a blogger who was set to give evidence.The move follows allegations its former Sinn Féin chairman coached a blogger who was set to give evidence.
Mrs Foster said that was a most disgraceful attempt to "impugn and discredit" the DUP's Peter Robinson. Daithí McKay resigned as a Sinn Féin MLA over the scandal. Mr Ó Muilleoir denies any knowledge of the messages.
Last September, loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson used a meeting of the committee to name the former DUP leader as the individual he referred to as "Person A" in relation to the scandal. Mrs Foster told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme: "I believe, on balance, it would be to the benefit of the institutions if he had stepped aside even temporarily."
The then first minister of Northern Ireland strongly denied he had sought to benefit in any way from the deal.
Analysis: BBC News NI Political Editor Mark DevenportAnalysis: BBC News NI Political Editor Mark Devenport
Arlene Foster's first comments on the Daithí McKay affair were intended to send out a few different messages:Arlene Foster's first comments on the Daithí McKay affair were intended to send out a few different messages:
That said, she also acknowledged Máirtín Ó Muilleoir's future was a matter for Sinn Féin, and since the party was backing its minister, that's probably an end to the matter.That said, she also acknowledged Máirtín Ó Muilleoir's future was a matter for Sinn Féin, and since the party was backing its minister, that's probably an end to the matter.
Although she made it clear she does not trust Sinn Féin, Mrs Foster clearly is not contemplating any wider action which would disrupt the stability of the DUP and Sinn Féin dominated coalition at Stormont.Although she made it clear she does not trust Sinn Féin, Mrs Foster clearly is not contemplating any wider action which would disrupt the stability of the DUP and Sinn Féin dominated coalition at Stormont.
Mr Ó Muilleoir denies having any knowledge of the messages sent ahead of Mr Bryson's appearance before the committee's inquiry into the £1.2bn sale of Nama's Northern Ireland property portfolio. But she added: "Sinn Fein have decided he is to remain in place and at the end of the day it is their call."
But he was named in direct Twitter messages between Jamie Bryson, Sinn Fein member Thomas O'Hara and the then finance committee chairman Daithí McKay, who resigned as a Sinn Féin MLA last week after the Nama coaching revelations were made public. Last September, loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson used a meeting of the committee to name former First Minister Peter Robinson as "Person A" - whom he said had personally benefitted from the £1.2bn sale of Nama's Northern Ireland property portfolio.
"On balance it would've been to the benefit of the institutions if he had stepped down temporarily," Mrs Foster told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme. The then first minister of Northern Ireland strongly denied he had sought to benefit in any way from the deal.
Mrs Foster said direct Twitter messages between Jamie Bryson, Daithi McKay and Sinn Fein member Thomas O'Hara were a "disgraceful attempt to impugn and discredit" her former colleague.
Nama is the Republic of Ireland's "bad bank", set up to deal with toxic loans after the 2008 property crash.Nama is the Republic of Ireland's "bad bank", set up to deal with toxic loans after the 2008 property crash.
The finance committee started investigating the 2014 sale to a US investment firm following an allegation made in the Dáil (Irish parliament) that a politician or political party in Northern Ireland stood to profit from the loan sale.The finance committee started investigating the 2014 sale to a US investment firm following an allegation made in the Dáil (Irish parliament) that a politician or political party in Northern Ireland stood to profit from the loan sale.