Latest news with #JayneBrady
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Mourners pay tribute to former NI Civil Service titan Sir Kenneth Bloomfield during funeral service
Friends and family of the former head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service and NI Victims Commissioner attended the Service of Thanksgiving, alongside Stormont politicians and Jayne Brady – the current Civil Service chief. Other guests at the service paying tribute to Sir Kenneth included Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt, former Ulster and Ireland rugby player Trevor Ringland and the Lord-Lieutenant of Belfast Dame Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle. Sir Kenneth died peacefully on Friday at the age of 94. He was the much loved and loving husband of Lady Elizabeth Bloomfield and a devoted father of Caroline and Tanya as well as a highly respected father-in-law of Boyd. Sir Kenneth joined the Civil Service in 1952 and would rise through the ranks to head the organisation in 1984. After standing down in 1991, he would later become the BBC's National Governor for Northern Ireland. In 1997, he would be tasked by the then Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam, to take on the role of NI Victims Commissioner. While at their home in Crawfordsburn in 1988 and while he was still the head of the Civil Service, he and his wife would become targets of an IRA bomb attack outside their home. Neither of them were injured in the Co Down blast. NI leaders paid tribute to Mr Bloomfield over the weekend. 'I was sorry to learn of the passing of Sir Kenneth Bloomfield. He gave many years of service to Northern Ireland and did so with thoughtfulness and dedication,' said the DUP leader, Gavin Robinson. 'His calm approach, even when targeted by the IRA, earned respect across the board, and his contribution to public life will not be forgotten. 'My thoughts and prayers are with his family and all who knew him at this sad time.' News Catch Up - Thursday 12th June Also sharing her condolences was the Alliance Party leader, Naomi Long. 'Sir Kenneth had a distinguished career in public service over many years and in many roles,' said the Justice Minister. 'He and his wife were personally targeted in the Troubles, when their home was attacked by an IRA bomb, but he did not allow it to deter him from his enduring commitment to public service. 'In the decades since his formal retirement, he continued that commitment, offering his skills and experience in the service of the community, most particularly in his work as Victims' Commissioner in the early days of the Assembly, a role which he notably described as being a 'painful privilege'. 'I know that he kept in touch with political developments and was especially supportive of efforts to ensure the devolved administration was put on a firm and stable footing. 'On behalf of myself and Alliance, I would wish to extend our deepest sympathies to Lady Elizabeth and the family circle on their very personal loss." UUP leader Mr Nesbitt described Sir Kenneth as a 'great intellect' and 'one of our finest'.
Belfast Telegraph
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Stormont spin doctor removed from role by Civil Service chief Jayne Brady
It is understood neither the First nor deputy First Minister were consulted before the decision by Jayne Brady to move Chris McNabb to another Stormont role, following what has been described as a 'personality clash'. First reported by the News Letter, it is believed that Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly wanted Mr McNabb to be reinstated, but he decided to accept an offer for a new position. Mr McNabb has headed the Executive Information Service (EIS) for more than a decade and is popular with journalists and politicians. It is understood the relationship between Mr McNabb and Ms Brady had deteriorated over issues he felt brought into question the impartiality of the NICS. Stormont sources told the Belfast Telegraph that the decision by Ms Brady was 'short-sighted' as there is no 'plan B' in terms of someone being lined up to take over the running of the Executive Information Service. 'Jayne Brady, for whatever reason, took this decision, but it seems she hasn't thought it through,' one source said. 'I would describe it as a reasonably clumsy decision. No one is indispensable in a job, but it was fair that the First and deputy First Ministers questioned why Chris is being moved, as he hadn't done anything wrong. "Jayne Brady just seems not to have valued the advice being given by Chris. 'It appears there has been no forward thinking as to how the EIS will be able to deliver the same level of service without someone else, with adequate experience, lined up to fill the role.' It is understood Mr McNabb is still in post on paper, but will soon be formally moved to another internal position at Stormont. The Executive Office has been contacted for comment. Jayne Brady was brought in to head up the NICS in 2021 in what was the first external appointment in the organisation's history. She had previously been a senior official at Belfast City Council. Speaking at the time of her appointment, Ms Brady said she was 'honoured' to take up the role, which came at a time when the NICS was still reeling from the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal. 'The NICS has a dedicated and skilled workforce who have done an outstanding job in the most challenging of circumstances,' she said. 'I will work with colleagues across the service to further develop the NICS as a high-performing organisation that effectively supports the institutions of government. 'I am under no illusions about the scale of the challenges ahead, but I am looking forward to supporting the Executive in delivering their commitments and priorities during my tenure.' Concerns have previously been raised about Ms Brady acting outside her remit, such as when she wrote directly to then Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris in January 2024 asking him to release funds to make public sector pay awards. In her letter to Mr Heaton-Harris, Ms Brady said the correspondence was being sent 'without prejudice to any decisions that an incoming executive might take', but that she was concerned about the 'public services, citizen safety and wellbeing, and the stability of public finances' posed by underfunding. 'You have publicly stated that the UK government cannot, and will not, stand by and allow public services and finances to decline further,' she said. 'This Thursday will represent the single biggest day of industrial action in a generation, reflecting the strength of feeling and deteriorating, and frankly untenable, position we are now in.'
