Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan has said the Agriculture Minister needs to clarify why the decision was taken to remove workers from the Port of Larne. 

The North Antrim MLA was speaking after the AERA committee agreed to his proposal to carry out an investigation into the decision by former minister Edwin Poots.

Philip McGuigan said:

“I welcome the fact the AERA committee agreed to my proposal to carry out an investigation into the then Minister’s decision to withdraw staff from the Port of Larne.

“There is a suspicion that this decision may have been taken for political reasons rather than on the security analysis.

“The Agriculture Minister also needs to urgently clarify his position as to his understanding why these workers were withdrawn.

“Serious questions also remain over the decision by Mid and East Antrim Council to remove workers from the Port of Larne based on reports of threats. 

“We need clarification on what information the Department and the Council was operating from and basing their decisions on if it was not the information given by the PSNI.”