The code being drawn up at present by officials working for the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to boost public confidence in political administration, may force Ministers of the Executive to resign their seats on local councils to prevent conflicts of interest.

    There are five Ministers affected including Mr. Sam Foster from Enniskillen who has been a member of Fermanagh District Council for 19 years. The others are Sir Reg Empey, Michael McGimpsey, Peter Robinson, Nigel Dodds and junior Minister, Denis Haughey. The code is also expected to ban Westminster MPs from contesting future Assembly elections in three years time.

    Fermanagh Council which held a by-election at the end of May could be facing another one should Mr. Foster’s seat become vacant as a result of the proposed rule. It is thought it would be operative before the next Local Government elections due to be held next May, although even this is under discussion at present as there is speculation that the elections will be deferred for a year to allow for re-organisation of council areas.

    This week, Mr. Foster reacted to the news by saying he would be sorry to leave Fermanagh Council. “It’s something that has been talked about for a period. I have a great affinity for Fermanagh District Council and the area of the Enniskillen ward. Fermanagh is a county of which I am very proud. I have been delighted to serve on it for 19 years and I would be loath to leave it because I respect the Council as a body and what it has meant to the people. I will not leave it unless I have to,”he stated.

    He did agree that because his ministerial portfolio was responsible for local government, it might make it difficult for him to avoid conflicts of interest.

    He said his work on the Council over the past 19 years during which he held the post of Chairman for two years from 1995 as well as being the Chairman of several committees, had been a great experience for him.