SF plays down significance of Stormont office allocation

Sinn Féin has been given four offices in Stormont's Parliament Buildings which used to be the Deputy First Minister's suite, it emerged today.

However, the party's Assembly Group leader John O'Dowd insisted the offices were given by Northern Peter Hain as additional resources to support its work on the Stormont Programme for Government Committee and not for use as a Deputy First Minister's Office.

The Upper Bann MLA said: "Sinn Féin has been allocated a number of offices in what was the Deputy First Minister suite but not at this point the Deputy First Minister's Office itself.

"The party will be using these additional resources to take forward our preparation for government and this work is being led by Martin McGuinness."

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams signalled two weeks ago in the Assembly in the event of devolution returning next March Mr McGuinness would be his party's choice as Deputy First Minister if they remained the second largest party.

Democratic Unionist leader Ian Paisley did not indicate in the Assembly chamber his intention to be First Minister, but subsequently told the PA news agency that he would take the role, provided republicans fulfilled their obligations under the St Andrews Agreement and the party remained the largest in the Assembly.

Mr Hain's decision to offer the offices follow moves to allow the four executive parties advisers.

It is understood Mr Hain made it clear in a letter that the facilities, which include office furniture, IT equipment and email, were being made available to the four parties who would form an executive – Sinn Féin, the Democratic Unionists, Ulster Unionists and the SDLP – in connection with the work of the Programme for Government Committee until March 25 of next year.

The Northern Secretary stressed it was not an Office for First and Deputy First Minister.

However he said the gesture was being made in recognition of the demands on the Programme for Government Committee and to ensure it was adequately supported to tackle key issues such as education, the review of public administration and an economic package for any future executive.

Mr Hain approved funding for three advisers each for the DUP and Sinn Féin - the two largest Assembly parties.

The UUP and SDLP has been offered funding for one adviser each – equivalent to a salary of £45,000 (€66,560) per year.

An administrative support staff was also proposed to help advisers liaise with government departments including ministerial briefings.